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The terrible Wrath of Bloody-hand. Page 46. 





THE WH/SPERING PINE SERIES. 

} 


THE 

SPARK OF GENIUS ; 


OR, 


THE COLLEGE LIFE OF JAMES TRAFTON 



ELIJAH KELLOGG, 

t I 

AlTTirOR OF “LION HEN OF ELM ISLAND,” “CHARLIE HELL, THE WAIF OF ELM 
ISLAND,” “THE ARK OF ELM ISLAND,” “THE HOY-FARMERS OF ELM 
ISLAND,” “THE YOUNG SUIV-KUILDERS OF ELM ISLAND,” 

“THE IIARDSCRABHLE OF ELM ISLAND,” “ARTHUR 
BROWN, THE Y'OUNG CAPTAIN.” “THE 
YOUNG DELIVERERS,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


BOSTON 

LEE and' SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS 

1899 


I8d9. 


"Pz,, 

*8 ^ 


40225 

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, 
By lee and SHEPARD, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 

COPYBIGHT, 1899, BY ElUAH KeLLOGG. 


All RighU Reserved. 


The Spark of Genius, 

'>f'CGIVE:C 






PEEFACE. 


The Spark op Genius illustrates a but too 
common result of parental ambition, the ef- 
fect of college life in pruning excrescences and 
rebuking conceit, the manner in which obstacles 
stimulate rather than repress real ability, and 
the importance of practical as well as theoreti- 
cal knowledge to success in life. The story was 
suggested by the following incidents. Consulted 
by a parent in respect to sending a son to col- 
lege, we used all the effort possible, without 
giving direct offence, to prevent it. The youth, 
after graduating, became a collector of sheep- 
skins for a large wool-puller. 

Some years after, passing an evening with a 
gentleman of large property, he observed that he 

3 


y 


4 


PREFACE. 


was extremely anxious to send his son to college, 
but the boy insisted upon putting on his apron and 
learning the trade of a machinist. The reply was, 
“ Sir, if you wish your son to form bad habits, spend 
your money, and break your heart, send him. If 
you wish him to earn his own bread, be a comfort 
to you, and a benefit to society, leave the mode 
of doing it to his own instincts.” 

That boy is now a very distinguished mechanic 
and most useful man. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I. 

While the Grass grows the Horse will starve. 

CHAPTER II. 

The Spark of Genius fanned 

CHAPTER III. 

James Trafton in College 

CHAPTER IV. 

Meeting between James and Bloody-hand. 


CHAPTER V. 

The Mathematician in Shafts. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Seeking an Opportunity to soar. . 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Squire soars 


5 


PAGE 

9 

23 

30 

41 

53 

64 

80 


6 


CONTENTS, 


CHAPTER VIII. 

Breaking the Fid 88 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Artist of Radcliffe Castle 99 

CHAPTER X. 

What they did at Number Four. . . . .110 

CHAPTER XI. 

‘‘Does it come off, Perk?” n8 

CHAPTER XII. 

Social Discipline of College Life. . . . 128 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Savage treads on the Wrong Cat’s Tail. . . 138 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Transmigration 150 

CHAPTER XV. 

Gets his Pay as he Goes along 158 

CHAPTER XVI. 

When Greek meets Greek 164 


CONTENTS. 


7 


CHAPTER XVII. 

A Friend in Need 17^ 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Silent Influence of a Great Example. . .184 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Knowledge is Power 199 

CHAPTER XX. 

Drawing Inferences 209 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Better to suffer than to lie 221 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Results of College Life 235 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Latent Energies developed 244 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Noble Conduct of Morton 254 




\ 


THE SPARK OF OEKIUS. 


CHAPTER I. 

WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE/’ 

U NCLE Jerry Williams, before the kitchen fire, 
was putting the bows into an ox-yoke. It 
was at that period of the year denominated by 
farmers betwixt hay and grass,’’ when the sledding, 
as a permanent thing, is over, but occasional flirts 
of snow enable the husbandman to complete unfin- 
ished work. While busily employed with his yoke, 
he is interrupted by Squire Trafton. 

Good evening, neighbor Williams.” 

Good evening, square. Take a cheer. It’s all 
cluttered up here ; for I’m all alone. The boys 
have gone to bed, and my wife and the gals are at 
some sort of doings over to Joe Webster’s ; but I’ll 
put a fire in t’other room in a minute.” 

By no means. I’m not particular ; but how 
happens it you and the boys didn’t go ? ” 

I tell you, square, I calkerlated to go ; so did 
the boys, for we was all invited ; but you see, 

9 


10 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


square, the sledding’s about done, and we had 
some hemlock logs that the boys cut and peeled 
last June ; and I wanted to get ’em to the sawmill, 
because we wanted ’em for fence this spring.” 

Yes.” 

“You know my old red ox that I raised. You 
pastered him for me when he was a steer.” 

“ Yes.” 

“Well, he’s eight years old this spring. He’s 
had three mates, and worn out the whole on ’em. 
He’s a master stout ox, 1 tell you.” 

“ I recollect him. He worked on the nigh side.” 

“Well, I heard that John Crowley had a power- 
ful good ox, two inches bigger in the girth than 
mine ; so, as he was an off ox, I mismatched, and 
let him take my off one, and I took hisn, and paid 
him fifty dollars boot, along the first of the winter.” 

“ That was a pretty large boot.” 

“ I know it; but it was judged, and I judged he 
would mate mine, and I didn’t know of any other 
ox that would. We hain’t hauled any heavy loads 
this winter, to see which was the stoutest, till we 
begun to haul these logs. Well, we had on a 
master load this forenoon, I tell you ; and jest as 
we was going over Wyman Brook, the forrard sled 
cut through the ice right into the ground. We 
had six oxen on. I put the brad right into the old 
oxen, and sung out to them ; and they had it, nip 
and tuck, for a minute or two ; and, by and by, old 
Star got his feet on the gravel, and rolled up his 


WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE. 11 


eyes, and he doubled that ox up like a tow string, 
and went straight out of the yoke like lightning.” 

You don’t say 1 ” 

“Well, I had this yoke laying by, all made but 
fitting the bows in ; and as the boys would have to 
be up to start by three o’clock, I told them they’d 
better go to bed, and I’d fit the bows and feed the 
oxen for them.” Holds up a piece of the yoke. 
“ It’s a mighty stout ox that’ll split a yoke like that.” 

“ I should think so ; but what are you going to 
do if that ox of Crowley's won’t mate him ? ” 

“ I shall have to give him the advantage in the 
yoke. I shouldn’t have done it in the house, but 
it’s cold working in the shed after you’ve been 
sweating all day in the woods. But I guess I’ve 
got one here that’ll hold ’em. I made it out of the 
big elm that grew down by the school-house.” 

“ Yes, I remember it well. You and I played 
under it many a time, when we were boys.” 

“ Do you remember, square, the day we tied 
our legs together with your handkerchief? The 
master saw that something was going on, and 
called you up quick. I out knife, and cut the 
handkerchief in two. You went up with half of it 
on your leg, and got a licking, and your mother 
gave you another, when you got home, for spoiling 
the handkerchief.” 

“ Yes, Jerry ; and somehow or other you did 
all the mischief, and I got all the lickings. But, 
neighbor Williams, I’ve come to speak to you in 


12 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


respect to a very important matter. You know I 
have two sons.’’ 

Yes ; James and William.” 

“ I’ve kept them at the best schools. James is 
sixteen, William eighteen. He has attended to 
English branches solely. James has read some 
Latin and Greek. My property, as you know, is 
large ; but justice to my other children, and their 
own happiness and respectability, require that my 
sons should have a profession, and do something 
for themselves. I had thought of William as a 
merchant, as he seems inclined that way; but 
James is not a common boy. He appears different 
from other boys ; and it is clear to me that, with 
proper culture, he might become eminent as a 
lawyer or statesman, and, perhaps, shine in the 
councils of the nation. You know talent has 
always run in the line of our family.” 

“ Talent run in his family ! ” thought Uncle 
Jerry to himself. “ His grandfather was baked in 
the mouth of. the oven. He bought land for fifty 
cents an acre, and had jest wit enough to keep it ; 
and when people came here, and settled, and set 
up mills, the rise in land made them rich ; and his 
mother turned off a joiner, because he couldn’t 
plane a knot-hole out of a board. — If,” said he to 
the squire, you had asked my opinion as to how 
many feet of boards a log would scale, it might 
have been worth something.” 

Now,” continued the squire, “ we are old 


WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE. 13 


neighbors and schoolmates ; and as I have always 
had a great respect for your judgment, and this is 
a matter of great importance to the reputation of 
our family, I wish to talk the matter over with you 
before deciding.” 

Well, square, as you ask my advice, I suppose 
you don’t wish me to be mealy-mouthed.” 

“ By no means.” 

You say it is time your boys began to do some- 
thing for themselves.” 

“ Yes, I think so.” 

“ Now, my boys have always done something for 
themselves. Since Sam and Tom were nine years 
old, they could drop corn, spread hay, steady the 
oxen at the plough, and ride the horse to plough 
among the corn ; and when Sam was thirteen years 
old, he could chop into the side of a tree with me, 
and trim out the limbs while 1 was cutting up the 
body. By hoeing a hill for him once in a while, 
he could keep along with me in hoeing. I don’t 
think my boys are anything more’n common ; but 
I do hope they’ve got common sense. I mean to 
bring them up to hard work, to fear God, and to 
love the soil. Man was made out of the ground, 
and the nearer he keeps to’t the happier he’ll be.” 

“You wouldn’t have all farmers — would you? 
There would be more raised than there would be 
mouths to eat.” 

“ No ; but I tell you what it is, square, while the 
grass is growing the horse will starve ” (a favorite 


14 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


phrase of farmer Williams). “ You never will get 
your money back that you throw away on these 
boys. There are too many of these lawyers, doc- 
tors, ministers, and counter-jumpers that have mis- 
taken their calling, for their own good, or that of 
their parents or country. It takes about so many 
men to do the thinking of the country, and them 
are I’m willing to support ; but I ain’t willing to 
support every lazy feller who wants to git red of 
work, and wear broadcloth, by setting himself up 
to teach others. I tell you, while the grass is 
growing the horse will starve. Doesn’t every- 
thing come out of the ground ? I want to know if 
all these collegers, lawyers, doctors, sailors, me- 
chanics, and merchants ain’t fed out of the ground 
by the farmer’s hands. Do they produce any- 
thing? What is to become of the country, I 
should like to know, if all the young men abandon 
the soil? My advice is, square, sence you’ve 
asked it, to just send off your hired men, take the 
head of the work yourself, encourage your boys to 
till the land, and in your old age you will have 
them to make you happy.” 

“ Do you think, Jerry Williams, that I’m going 
to make my sons clod-hoppers? I spurn the 
vulgar thought. That may do very well for your 
boys ; indeed, it is the only course you can pursue.” 

“ I am not so short-sighted, square, as to run of 
an idee that all should be farmers. I think all kind 
of labor is honorable, and that men should follow 


WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE. 15 


the calling which Providence has marked out for 
them by the naPral gifts he’s given them ; but 
there’s no doubt of this ere in my mind — that the 
best place to start a family of boys, bring ’em up, 
larn ’em to take hold of a job, and carry it through, 
give ’em health, strength, and common sense, is on 
the land. A boy at sixteen brought up on a farm, 
other things being equal, is fit for anything — to 
larn a trade, work the land, or git laming ; while a 
boy brought up to laze round a village, and, when 
out of school, to hang round a store, ain’t good for 
nothing.” 

“ That may do very well for people who have 
but little property to leave their children, to bring 
them up to day labor.” 

Square, let me tell you one thing — a sieve 
will hold a master sight o’ water. The more you 
turn in, the more you may. You can’t leave prop- 
erty enough to children who never earned a 
dollar, and don’t know the worth of it, to last them 
a great many years.” 

“ Don’t you think it’s a parent’s duty and happi- 
ness to do all he can for his children ? ” 

“ Indeed I do ; but the way to do it is to larn 
them to do for themselves. It would have been a 
great deal better for some children that you and I 
have known, if their fathers, when they went, 
coifld have taken their property with ’em, and let 
the children shirk for themselves ; but, then, if 
you bring ’em up helpless, I s’pose you must leave 
’em something to maintain ’em.” 


16 


THE SPaHK oE (JENIUS. 


J erry, you was a strange kind of a boy, and 
you are a very singular man/^ 

Square, the old saying is, ^ A shoemaker 
shouldn't go beyond his last.’ I ain’t been to the 
’cademy, nor had privileges as some have ; but 1 
know what He who made ull things puts right 
before my eyes in his works. Here’s a hen in the 
barn-yard. She lays her litter ; then she sets on 
the eggs ; sticks to it like wax, till the chickens 
are hatched; then she scratches for them, and 
larns them to scratch, hovers them, and protects 
them from the cold and wet, gives them good 
advice, tells them about the hawks, to thank God 
when they drink, and how to clean and take care 
of themselves, larns them to go to roost, and, when 
they’re big enough to do it, she says to them, ‘ Be 
off, and scratch for yourselves.’ Did ever any- 
body see a chicken that couldn’t scratch, and get 
his living? That is what the Good Being has 
showed me in my own , barn-yard, and that’s the 
way 1 mean to bring up my boys and gals. 
They’ve got to scratch, and, by and by, they’ll 
thank me for laming ’em.” 

“ Such comparisons violate all ideas of good 
taste. They may do for you and your boys, who 
seem naturally adapted to a barn-yard, and most 
at home there.” 

“Well, square, sence you set yourself and }Wr 
folks up so much above me. I’ll give you a piece 
of my mind. There’s three kinds of people in this 


WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE. 17 

world that have a living ; one earns it, one begs it, 
the other steals it. I belong to the first, you to 
the second class.^^ 

‘‘Jerry Williams, do you presume to call me a 
beggar ? 

“ Wait a little till I get through; then deny it, 
if you can. You and I are one year’s children. 
We went to the deestrict school together, that is, 
in the winter, for I had to work in the summer ; 
and though you went all the time, and I only half, 
and often came barefoot, I was always above you 
in the class. I shouldn’t bring up this ere, square, 
if you hadn’t gone to twitting me first : but as I 
was saying, my father was a poor man, and I soon 
had to go to work with but little laming. I’ve 
bought this farm and paid for it with the labor of 
my hands, and I’ve some money laid up besides. 
I earned all I’ve got. Your father was rich, kept 
you at schools and academies till you were man 
grown, then died and left you all, and more than 
you’ve got now.” 

“ I always knew that you envied me.” 

“ I did once, but that is all past. Many a hot 
morning, when I’ve gone into the field with my 
scythe or my hoe, I’ve seen you, with your books 
under your arm, sauntering to school, to sit all 
day in the shade, and I envied you then; but now 
I thank God I was brought up to hard work, and 
to have manhood, for with all the talent you speak 
about, you’re not worth so much by six thousand 
2 


18 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


dollars as when your father died. You never did 
a day’s work in your life, and don’t know when 
your hired men do one. They cheat you, and you 
don’t know it, for all you farm by science, as you 
call it. Every bushel of corn you raise costs you 
double its worth ; every critter you raise, ’twould. 
be cheaper to knock it on the head when it comes ; 
your drains cost more’n the land they drain is 
worth ; your fences are worth more than the fields 
they enclose ; your barns cost more’n all they’ve 
ever contained ; thus, while you’ve begged your 
living, I’ve earned mine. As for your son James, 
the common opinion and speech of folks (and it’s 
mine) is, that he hasn’t ‘Indian suet,’ and that 
though he might do on a farm, if he had somebody 
to overlook him, he isn’t fit for much, else ; as to 
the reputation you speak of, I’d ruther be my own 
employer than another man’s clerk ; I’d as lives 
sweep out my own barn as somebody else’s store. 
I’d much ruther my boys would be well-to-do 
farmers, with a house over their heads, beef and 
pork in the cellar, cattle in the barn, sheep in the 
paster, and a good horse to ride on, on occasion, 
than to be fifth-rate lawyers, clerks that grow gray 
as salesmen, broken marchants, or rakes that, 
ruined in the city, come home to die of consump- 
tion, as Bill Webber’s son did last week.” 

“Do you mean to say, sir, that my sons can ar- 
rive at no higher position than that of fifth-rate 
lawyers or subordinate clerks ? ” 


WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE. 19 


“ I will say as mucli as this, square : if they are 
any more than that, I can’t see it.” 

^^Well, sir, it’s nothing but a mean spirit of 
envy, that you’ve always cherished towards our 
family, that prompts you to say these things.” 

Well, I didn’t offer my advice before you asked 
it. Don’t think I envy you, square ; I have no 
occasion to ; for if you go on ten years as you 
have begun, and bring up your children in such 
idle and expensive habits, you will in that time be 
the poor man, and I the wealthy one.” 

Is not a lawyer, in large practice, in the way 
of making money? and do not successful mer- 
chants become rich ? ” 

“Well — yes, if they do succeed; but I tell 
you, while the grass is growing the horse will 
starve.” 

“Well, there is so little satisfaction in talking 
with yon, that I will bid you good evening; but I 
shall refer this matter to Mr. Goodnow, the pre- 
ceptor of the Academy, and be governed by his 
advice ; he is a literary man, much better qualified 
to judge of a young man’s parts than an ignorant 
person, like you.” 

“ You had better be careful, square ; he’s a col- 
lege student, keeps the Academy by the job, and 
is desperate anxious for scholars.” 

“ Sir, you do injustice to a very worthy and 
talented young man, and talk of that you do not 
understand,” 


20 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


The square has gone away in a huff ; but he’ll 
get over it, and come round again. I’m sorry 1 
put him out ; but he provoked me.” 

The current of his thought was interrupted by 
the entrance of his son Sam, exclaiming, “ Father, 
is it three o’clock ? ” 

“ No, boy, it’s only nine ; but as you are up, you 
might as well take this yoke to the barn, feed the 
cattle, and go to bed again. I’ll wake you.” 

A smile of parental pride and pleasure passed 
over the face of the father as the door closed be- 
hind the retiring boy. 

‘‘Well, now, isn’t he good for something? So 
afraid that he shall oversleep, he can’t sleep. I 
reckon he’ll be of as much use in the world as 
James Trafton, who, in my opinion, don’t know 
enough to know when his feet are cold. I’m sorry 
I angered the old square, though.” 

It would be difficult to find two persons more 
unlike than Squire Trafton and Uncle Jerry Wil- 
liams : yet they were great friends, although they 
often fell out, generally owing to some assumption 
of superiority by the grandiloquent squire over 
the hard-handed, clear-headed, shrewd old farmer, 
who was unusually respected, and always selected 
as an umpire by his neighbors in all difficult mat- 
ters. 

These quarrels between him and the squire were 
only skin-deep — soon made up, and matters went 
on as before, 


WHILE THE GRASS GROWS THE HORSE WILL STARVE. 21 


Squire Trafton’s father intended to send his son 
to college ; but dying while the boy was fitting, 
the matter was relinquished. The squire was re- 
markably conceited — fond of using words and 
phrases of which he did not always know the 
meaning, many of which, as he had a retentive 
memory, he had borrowed from others, because he 
thought they had a fine sound, applying them to 
all subjects at all times, with most admirable confu- 
sion of both sense and sound. He was a great lover 
of money. If, as Uncle Jerry more than hinted, 
he had lost many thousands by his farming oper- 
ations, it was from lack of judgment and the love 
of display, and because he fiattered himself that 
his improvements would pay by and by. He 
was mean in his family and with his hired help, 
had no feeling for those in necessity, but would 
give when it was sure to be spread abroad; would 
spend money to give an entertainment to his 
wealthy neighbors, or entertain persons of dis- 
tinction, especially literary people, and was sure, 
in the course of the evening, to bring in a dozen 
times “ when I was fitting for college.’^ 

When a carpenter is about to build a ship, or a 
joiner a house, they select timber suitable for 
their purpose ; but people with far greater pre- 
tensions to sagacity in other respects than Squire 
Trafton, without consulting either the proclivities 
or natural capacities of their children, resolve to 
send them to college, curse tlie community with 
men out of place, and reap as they have sown. 


22 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


The squire, without the least doubt that the 
education of James would be a paying investment 
when he should become a successful lawyer 
(though it might be expensive at the outset), 
wrote a note to the preceptor of the Academy, 
requesting the favor of his company to tea, 
crammed with many of the high-sounding phrases 
he had heard on various occasions, and, to the 
great delight of the boys (who had been kept 
short for a long time), provided a most bountiful 
repast. 

Bill,” said James, I wish the master would 
come to tea every night.” 

So do I.” 

We shan’t gain much,” said James; “for after- 
wards we shall be kept shorter than ever to pay 
for it.” 

“ 1 don’t care ; I’ll have one good tuck-out ; see 
if I don’t/’ replied Bill. 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS FANNED. 


23 


CHAPTER II. 

THE SPARK OP GENIUS FANNED. 

T he first act of Squire Trafton, after his return 
from Uncle Jeremiah’s, was to despatch a 
note to Mr. Goodnow, inviting him to tea on the 
next Thursday evening. As a preparation for this 
interview with the man of literature, upon a sub- 
ject so pregnant with interest to the Trafton 
family, the squire seated himself in his library to 
read Cicero. 

Quousque tandem abuiere^ Gatilina^ patientia 
nostra ? Quamdiu, etiam furor iste turn nos eludet ? 
I can read the Latin, but for the life of me I can’t 
give the English of it ; strange how quick a lan- 
guage slips away from any one.” 

While thus occupied, the servant announces the 
expected guest. Sumner Goodnow was a student 
in his senior year, a fine scholar, not overburdened 
with principle (that is, his principles never stood 
much in the way of his wishes), and he relished a 
joke better than his daily bread. 

He had taken the Academy in order to obtain 
money to meet the additional expenses of the 


24 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


graduating year. The trustees giving him the 
rent of the building, he depended for remuneration 
upon the tuition. It was, therefore, for his ad- 
vantage to get scholars — the more scholars, the 
more dollars. 

Attractive, genial, a splendid teacher, and 
thoroughly versed in the maxim, ‘‘ You tickle me, 
and I’ll tickle you,” he soon filled the hitherto 
empty seats of the Academy to repletion. The 
keen-witted youth had taken the measure of Squire 
Traffcon accurately, from his appearance at church, 
during casual interviews, and more especially from 
the note of invitation, and was quite prepared 
to reap either profit or amusement from the in- 
terview. 

Squire Trafton received his dangerous guest 
(book in hand) with great cordiality, and no little 
pomposity. 

Good evening, Mr. Goodnow. I wish you a 
very good evening. I am happy to meet you. 
Please be seated, sir. I' sometimes spend an even- 
ing in reviewing the studies of my youth, and 
have been looking over Catiline.” 

“ I rejoice to meet a gentleman in whom the 
cares of life, the burden of extensive business, and 
the management of large estates, have not de- 
stroyed all relish for the studies of his youth : it 
evinces a cultured mind and fine literary tastes.” 

“ You must draw your own references, sir.” 

I have been also much interested, sir, in the 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS FANNED. 


25 


evidences of taste displayed in the approach 
to your house, the laying out of the grounds, ar- 
rangement of the buildings, and beauty of the 
shrubbery.’' 

1 am very much obliged to you, sir ; it is a 
gratification to me to perceive that my attempts 
to embitter my home have attracted the notice of 
a gentleman of taste, especiall}^ as I have found 
my efforts in that direction but very slightly ap- 
preciated by my ignorant neighbors.” 

I understood, squire, from j^our note, that you 
wished to see me on business of moment.” 

Indeed, I did, sir. I wish to converse with you 
confidentially in relation to a subject that lies very 
near my heart.” 

“ You do me honor, sir.” 

It is in respect to my son James. I have 
thought of giving him a liberal education, as we 
have never had a professional man in our family. 
I hope, sir, it is an honorable ambition.” 

“ None more so, sir.” 

“ I have thought that James was an uncommon 
boy. You know, sir, that parental affection is apt 
to blind and prejudice us ; but I have thought that 
I have observed in him indications of superior 
capacity, which might, perhaps, repay an enlarged 
culture. I would submit this matter, so important 
to me, to your decision.” 

“ I feel myself highly honored, sir, by the con- 
fidence you repose in me. I have for a long time 


26 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


been attracted by and interested in the preco- 
city — (“ Precocity : I must remember that ex- 

pression/’ the squire said to himself) — ^^mani- 
fested by your son. You are pleased to speak, sir, 
of indications of capacity which you think per- 
ceptible in your son. Sir, you do your own pene- 
tration, and the young man, great injustice. He 
gives unmistakable evidence of the divine afflatus. 
Be assured, sir, that there is a hidden germ of 
genius which should be developed, to whose fruits 
society and the world are entitled, and which, I 
can only hope, I may be the humble means of 
developing.” 

“ I rejoice to find my own convictions confirmed 
by so high authority. Would you believe it, sir? 
I have been advised within two days, by one 
whose judgment I have hitherto respected, to put 
him to the plough.” 

“ 0 tempora ! 0 mores ! Sir, you amaze me ! 

Crush such a sublime genius ! deprive the world 
of such a luminary ! Who could give such mon- 
strous, such preposterous advice ? ” 

“ Indeed, sir, it was farmer Williams.” 

“ I am astonished ; he must labor under some 
strange delusion.” 

I rather think, as he is a very proud, ambi- 
tious man, that the difference in our fortunes, 
which enables me to give my children advantages 
superior to his own, has generated a feeling of 
envy.” 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS PANNED. 


27 


“ With your usual penetration, you have hit 
upon the true reason at once.” 

“Is there no way, Mr. Goodnow, in which my 
son might remain under your instruction? I sup- 
pose you will return to college in the spring.” 

“ Yes, sir ; but I shall remain there a year after 
graduation, in order to pursue a special subject of 
study. Your son might accompany me, board in 
the vicinity, and still be under my instruction; 
that is, if you are willing to incur the additional 
expense.” 

“ The expense is of no consequence, sir, especial- 
ly as I consider it to be a mere advance, to be 
repaid with interest, when, through your instruc- 
tion and example, and his own efforts, he becomes 
a lawyer in lucrative practice. I think the cast of 
his mind, and his tendencies, favor the legal pro- 
fession. Permit me, sir, before you go, to call my 
son in, and inform him of your decision. John, 
send Master James here.” 

John, going to the kitchen, bawls out, “Jim, 
your father wants you.” 

“ James, I have decided you shall pursue your 
education with Mr. Goodnow this winter. When 
he returns to college, you will accompany him to 
the neighborhood of the college, and, under his in- 
struction, continue your studies, till you are fitted 
for college. You may go, James.” 

James retired, pulling his topknot with both 
hands. 


28 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


I must bid you good evening, squire.’’ 

I am indebted to you, sir, and hope you will 
make this house your home.” 

The town, which numbered among its inhabitants 
the families of Squire Trafton and Uncle Jerry, was 
a thriving farming place, and even at that early 
period, when the State of Maine was, to a great 
extent, wilderness, rejoiced in an institution by 
courtesy termed an academy, a tavern, four gro- 
ceries, two blacksmiths’ shops, a cabinet-maker’s 
shop, two doctors, a pound, a pair of hay-scales, a 
slaughter-house where beef was packed, a hatter’s 
shop, a town well with a sweep, and trout in it, a 
post-office, three cooper shops, and a shoemaker, 
most of the people mending, and some making, 
their own shoes. There was also a village library. 
It was a peculiar feature of this state, before the 
advent of railroads, that towns situated so near 
the seaboard as to admit of the profitable hauling 
of lumber to market, were twenty-five years in 
advance of those a few miles back. Small game 
— raccoons, foxes, partridges, and pigeons — were 
abundant. Bears were by no means rare. Deer 
were sufficiently plenty to induce the legislature 
to pass an act forbidding to hunt them out of sea- 
son, and wolves still occasionally made havoc 
among the sheep. The place, when a plantation, 
was, by reason of its shape, called the Gore. 

Memory fondly lingers around the old plantation 
name ; and when speaking of the spot, we shall 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS PANNED. 


29 


dispense with the name given in the act of incor- 
poration, and still call it the Gore. 

A fortnight had barely passed when the squire 
came down himself for the aid of Uncle Jeremiah, 
all smiles and bows, in a state of peculiar perplex- 
ity. It seems he had sold a quantity of screwed 
hay to be delivered at a certain time, and when 
the workmen came to press it, it was found that 
his hopeful son James had pounded all the threads 
from one of the screws with a hatchet, and Uncle 
Jerry was the only one in the neighborhood who 
could cut a wooden screw. He promised to go 
the next day : thus tranquillity was restored, and 
they were as good friends as ever. 

In due time James Trafton entered college, 
where his former instructor, after a year spent 
as a resident licentiate, became tutor. It was a 
delicate and difficult position to be placed in, as 
tutor among those, the great majority of whom he 
had so recently associated with as students ; but 
he was equal to the position, as successful and 
popular as tutor as he had been during his college 
course, and while teaching ; for if ever a man knew 
how to drive a coach between glass walls, that man 
was Sumner Goodnow. 


30 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER III. 

JAMES IN COLLEGE. 

J AMES had not been an inmate of college half a 
term before his classmates, taking the meas- 
ure of his capacities, came to very much the same 
conclusion respecting them as Uncle Jerry and his 
boys had done. Possessing a large share of his 
father’s conceit, he was profoundly ignorant, 
credulous, and an arrant coward ; indeed, at home 
he had not the courage to take a setting hen off 
the nest, and was driven out of the barn-yard by 
the gobbler. He had very little conception of 
the value of money, never having earned a cent, 
and was by no means chary of spending that 
which belonged to his father. These qualities 
rendered him fair game for any who might be dis- 
posed to profit by his weakness. Unfortunately 
for him and the pocket of the squire, there was no 
lack of such individuals in college, and especially 
in his own class. 

The heir of “ Oakwood,” as Squire Trafton 
called his estate, had indeed fallen among beasts 
of prey. They were all ripe and ready enough 


JAMES IN COLLEGE. 


31 


for any kind of mischief; but what was rather 
remarkable, the two prime movers of all roguery 
were Richardson and Morton, and they were both 
keen scholars, ambitious, and sticklers for rank. 
Tlie rest did not care ; lacked not for capacity, but 
were lazy. 

Richardson was a most excellent mathematician, 
and accustomed, when asked if he had gotten a 
hard lesson, to reply, “ Well, I’ve read it over.” 

The set were wont to get their lessons together. 
When some problem in mathematics came up, 
Richardson would look at it a moment, and say, 
“ 0, I see the iniquity of it,” and then proceed to 
unfold it. 

Morton was equally superior as a linguist and 
an easy writer. He had other qualifications, 
which constituted him, by common consent, the 
leading spirit of the fraternity. He could origi- 
nate, and he could plan. 

Morton’s mind, capacious of such things, per- 
ceived a vast fund of amusement in the character 
and proclivities of James Trafton, whom he made 
a special study, and soon ingratiated himself with 
him to such a degree, by aiding him in his lessons, 
that James considered him the best friend he 
ever had. 

At the distance of about a quarter of a mile 
from the college halls stood a two-story building, 
in which a hair-dresser had formerly kept his shop 
and lived. It stood in a field, quite aloof from 


32 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


other buildings, had three chambers above, and a 
room below, back of the shop, which was front, 
and had formerly been used as a kitchen and din- 
ing-room. The rest of the building was unfinished. 
It belonged to the gentleman with whom Morton 
boarded. He persuaded his landlord to paint it, 
put on blinds and inside shutters to the windows, 
and fit it for students’ rooms, telling him he would 
find him tenants. At the commencement of the 
spring term it was ready, and Morton and his set 
hired the whole of it. They were removed from 
the inspection of college officers. James Trafton 
was extremely credulous, and possessed a most 
retentive memory, though he was not overbur- 
dened with capacity, never read anything useful, 
or put his really great power of recollection to any 
good use. Yet he remembered and could repeat 
all the gossip, and any little foolish story, he had 
ever heard. James’s grandmother, a very old lady, 
was full of anecdotes of Indians and their cruel- 
ties, and perfectly at home in all the incidents of 
the old Indian wars. From her James had learned 
all these horrible stories by heart, had them at his 
tongue’s end, was very proud of repeating them, 
and being quite too ignorant of history to know 
that the Indian tribes were powerless in New 
England, cherished a wholesome dread of them. 
Morton noticed this, and laid his plans accord- 
ingly. . 

A large extent of woodland came up on one 


JAMES IN COLLEGE. 


33 


side, quite near to the walls of the college, a great 
part of it thick growth, and, at the period of 
which we speak, but little pervaded by roads, and 
to a very small extent inhabited. Foxes, wood- 
chucks, and, in the season of them, wild pigeons, 
afforded abundant sport to students sportively in- 
clined. All these matters were favorable to the 
project with which Morton’s busy mind was teem- 
ing. Having thoroughly got his lesson, he called 
a meeting of the fraternity in his room, and 
broached to them his plan, which was — taking 
advantage of James Trafton’s credulity in relation 
to the Indians — to make him believe the Mohawks 
were on the war-path, breathing vengeance, and 
that the only way to save his scalp lay in pro- 
pitiating them by presents. 

He was met at the outset by a multitude of ob- 
jections. 

It can’t be did, Morton,” said Richardson. 
“ He’ll see through it.” 

I tell you. Rich, he don’t know enough to last 
him over night ; and he’s got Indians on the 
brain. He’ll believe anything in that line.” 

“ But,” said Hill, “ to carry it out, there must be 
live Indians. Where are they coming from ? ” 

“ We’ll paint, and be Indians ourselves.” 

“ He’ll know our voices,” said Savage. 

“ There need be only the chief able to speak 
broken Englisli. I’ll be chief. I can alter my 
voice so that my own mother wouldn’t know it.” 

3 


34 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


“ But where are we going to get the Indians’ 
dress, and all the fixings, and make them ? ” 

Hill can make the clothes. I’ll go into a tin 
shop, and make the breastplates. I’ve got a cou- 
sin, Sam Morton, who has any quantity of Indian 
relics, — wampum, tomahawks, pipes, bows and 
arrows, — and I can borrow them.” 

Where shall we meet ? ” asked Hathaway. 

In the woods in the night, have wigwams, and 
a dim fire to make the savages loom up and look 
frightful. We must have bloody scalps, too.” 

“ Where will you get them ? ” asked Richardson. 
“ Are you going to scalp anybody, you bloodthirsty 
wretch ? ” 

Make ’em, Rich. I can make ’em, and stick 
the hair on with gum shellac.” 

“ Where’ll you get the blood to stain them ? ” 

“ Down to Ike Dalton’s slaughter-house.” 

“ But,” said Hill, after it’s all over, he’ll know 
it’s a hoax, because he’ll see that nobody else is 
alarmed; and he’ll tell about it, and the fellows 
will tell him we’ve been fooling him ; then he’ll 
write home about it, it will get to the ears of the 
faculty, and we shall catch it.” 

“ What if he does find it out after it is done? 
We shall have had the fun, and the ransom-money, 
and I can scare him so that he will never dare to 
lisp one word of it, any more than he would to cut 
his own throat.” 

We can never fool him again,” said Richardson, 


JAMES IN COLLEGE. 


35 


“ and we were reckoning upon having lots of fun 
out of him.’’ 

** Yes, we can, in some other way ; he’ll forget 
it all in a month, and be just as ready to swallow 
something else.” 

“ He’ll expect us to go with him,” said Perkins. 
“ How are we going to be in two places at once, 
Mort — escort him there, and represent Indians ? ” 

“ You can take him there. Perk ; the rest of us 
will be there as Indians, and he can be made to 
understand that the rest have paid their ransom 
and secured their scalps, and we will be at the 
castle to receive and congratulate him, when you 
bring him back.” 

“ Well, I can’t believe,” said Eichardson, “that 
he can be made to swallow all that.” 

“ I can,” said Savage, “ for I made him hold a 
lamp the other evening for me to see to shave 
by, without a glass ; he held it all through as 
grave as a judge, and never saw the joke.” 

“ Well, Mort,” said Hathaway, “ you’ve got to be 
consulting thief ; stuff him, work him up, and get 
him ready to swallow the hook, for none of the 
rest of us could either do it or keep a sober face 
while trying to.” 

“ I’ll do that. I’ll make him see stars at noon- 
day, and fill him so full of horrors, that ‘ each par- 
ticular hair ’ shall ^ stand on end, like quills upon 
the fretful porcupine.’ ” 

They now, at intervals, set themselves to pre- 


36 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


pare all their articles of costume, and build their 
wigwams in the woods. The articles of dress; 
tomahawks, pipes, scalps, &c., were all deposited 
in the closets at Radcliffe Castle, as they had chris- 
tened the building in which they roomed. 

One evening, after James Trafton had blown out 
his light and was getting into bed, there was a 
slight tap at the door. 

“ Who^s there ? 

“I — Morton.^^ 

I^m just getting into bed.” 

“No matter ; open the door.” 

“ I will light a light.” 

“ No, donT ; what I have to tell can be told best 
in the dark.” 

They sat down together on the edge of the bed. 

“ Who rooms next to you ? ” 

“ Lowell and Ferguson.” 

“ Can they hear in their bedroom ? ” 

“ No, there^s a wood closet between.” 

“ Then I want to tell you something that nearly 
concerns your life.” 

“ Why, Morton, you frighten me.” 

“ So I ought. The Mohawks have broken loose ; 
have come down with tomahawks and scalping- 
knives, and are lying now in the woods around this 
college. You’ve heard, perhaps, of the Mohawks.” 

“ I guess I have, indeed ; the greatest and most 
bloodthirsty of all the Indian tribes. I’ve heard 
my grandmother say that all the Indians clear to 


JAMES IN COLLEGE. 


37 


St. John’s, pay tribute to them; so that once a 
year they send to collect it.” 

“ Well, they have come ; they are in their war- 
paint; it’s enough to make anybody’s blood run 
cold to look at them in their paint, with bloody 
scalps at their girdles.” 

“ But why don’t they call out the militia, and 
people, and drive them off? ” 

Drive them off ! They are thicker than the 
leaves on the trees, and have surrounded the 
place ; there’s no going out or coming in.” 

“ What shall we do ? They will kill us all. 
Can’t we hide ? ” 

“ Hide from an Indian, whose eyes are keener 
than a wolfs, and who can smell a white man just 
as a hound can scent a fox ! ” 

Is there no escape ? ” 

“ That’s what I’ve come to tell you about. 
They’ll take ransom money. You know Pike?’’ 

Yes.” 

Well, he belongs near where they live, and 
knows the chief. Bloody-hand, and can talk their 
language. He has seen the chief, and so have we 
Radcliffe Castle boys, and ransomed ourselves.” 

At this period of the conversation there was a 
crash of broken glass, and something fell on the 
floor before them. 

Light a lamp, Jim, and see what it is.” 

“ I guess,” said Trafton, “ it’s a stick of wood 
some sophomore has thrown.” 


38 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


It was a bloody arrow wreathed with the skin 
of a rattlesnake. 

“ 0, this is awful. This means death and de- 
struction; for IVe heard grandmother say so a 
hundred times. See, it has got a flint head, just 
as I have heard her say the Indian arrow always 
had. Now I suppose that was dipped in the 
heart’s blood of some poor creature they have 
killed.” 

I suppose so ; but I will take the arrow, and 
send it back to the chief. Perhaps he would like 
to have it.” 

“ But what about the ransom, Mort ? Do tell me 
about it.” 

“ Well, Pike went with us last night, and we 
met the chief with some of his warriors. He can 
speak English, but the others can’t ; and we ran- 
somed ourselves for ten dollars and four pounds of 
tobacco apiece. I came to tell you, that you might 
save your life.” 

You’re a real good friend, Mort. I’ve got the 
money, and more ; but when must this be done ? ” 

“ This night, or your scalp may be at an Indian’s 
girdle before morning. None can tell when or 
where an Indian will strike his blow.” 

“ But where shall we get the tobacco ? ” 

‘‘ Call up Palmer’s boy, that sleeps in the store.” 

“ Who’ll go with me ? ” 

I’ll send Perkins here at twelve o’clock to go 
with you ; get the tobacco, and be ready ; after you 


JAMES IN COLLEGE. 


39 


get through, come to our room ; we’ll all be there, 
and have a supper to celebrate our deliverance. 
Now be a man, Trafton ; nerve yourself up for the 
trial; and when you come into the presence of 
Bloody-hand, don’t let him see you tremble.” 

Morton, stay with me till Perkins comes. I 
don’t like to be here alone.” 

“ I can’t. I must prepare for morning recitar 
tion.” 

“ Perhaps another arrow will come.” 

“ What if it does ? It can’t hurt you, if you 
keep out of the way of the window.” 

Can’t I call Chapman, who rooms in No. 6, to 
stay with me till Perkins comes ? ” 

“ No ; you must not break one word of what I 
have said to you this night to any human being ; 
if you do, death will be your portion.” 

“ But what must I say when I get there ? ” 

“You needn’t say anything; Perkins will do 
it all.” 

“ What must I do ? ” 

“ Nothing, except to give the money and tobacco 
into the hands of the chief.” 

“ Shan’t we go through Indians before we reach 
the chief?” 

“Yes, thousands of them, under every bush and 
tree.” 

“ Won’t they kill us ? ” 

“ No ; because Perkins knows the countersign.” 

“ Do stay with me, Mort, and sail in the morning 
on general knowledge.” 


40 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ Pm afraid ’twould be too general. Be a man, 
Jim; when Perkins comes, he will give three raps, 
one right after the other.’' 

James, thus left alone, covered himself in the 
bed-clothes, and lay trembling, recalling all the 
stories of Indians which he had heard his grand- 
mother relate. The footstep of every late reveller 
returning to his room, the noise of the night wind 
at the casement, or the movement of a chair in the 
room above, made him crouch and shiver, as if the 
tomahawk of the savage was uplifted to slay him. 
He began to fear it was too late to offer ransom ; 
that the time during which it would be accepted 
might have passed by. 

“ I should have thought,” said he to himself, 
they might have told me, and let me have gone 
with them ; ” and it was with a feeling of infinite 
relief that he heard the three taps announcing the 
arrival of Perkins. Leaping from the couch, he 
embraced him. ‘‘ 0, Perkins, I hope it’s not too 
late.” 

“ Not too late,” was the reply ; “ but there’s no 
time to lose.” 


MEETING BETWEEN TEA ETON AND BLOODY-HAND. 41 


CHAPTER IV. 

MEETING BETWEEN JAMES TRAFTON AND BLOODY-HAND. 

I T was very dark as James and his guide 
emerged from the college ; a warm, thick fog 
enveloped them, completely obscuring the light of 
stars; and as they entered upon a bridle-path 
that ran through the woods, the darkness was per- 
fectly impenetrable. James ran against the trees, 
and stumbled over stumps and bushes. 

‘‘ Perk, how is it you get along so ? ” 

“ I feel out the path with my feet.^^ 

“ But there is no path.^’ 

“ Yes, there is.” 

The secret of Perk^s progress lay in the fact 
that he was a most inveterate gunner, and not 
being studiously disposed, spent the greatest por- 
tion of his time in the woods, pastures, and on the 
waters of the neighboring bay, and was perfectly 
familiar with the locality. There is also a great 
difference in individuals in regard to seeing in the 
night, and Perkins was gifted with great keenness 
of vision. As they left the woods, and came out 
into the open pasture, Trafton exclaimed, “ How 


42 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


glad I am we’re clear of these woods ! ” Scarcely 
were the words out of his mouth when he received 
a terrible thump, heard a scampering of feet, and 
found himself flying in the air, from whence he 
landed on his back, striking the ground with great 
violence. 

“ Murder ! Murder ! Mercy ! Mercy ! I’ll pay 
a hundred dollars,” he screamed, holding on to his 
scalp with both hands, thinking the whole Mohawk 
tribe was upon him. 

Shut up,” said Perk, laughing immoderately ; 
you’ve fallen over a horse, and frightened him as 
much as yourself” 

“ Was it a horse ? 0, 1 thought it was Indians.” 

“ You’ll get a tomahawk in your head, if you go' 
to screaming at that rate, for we are getting near 
their ambush. Now see if you can hold your 
tongue, and come along ; turn round this way. I’m 
blessed if the calf ain’t going right back.” 

“Be I? Well, I didn’t know it. Perkins, let 
me take hold of your coat-tail.” 

“ No ; I can’t walk if you do.” 

They proceeded nearly half a mile, when Perk 
said, “ Look out ! you’re coming to a fence.” 
Clambering over this, they entered a smooth field, 
with woods on one side of them, and in the dis- 
tance in front, the black shadow of which could be 
seen at intervals, as the fog lifted a little. 

“ How much better this is ! and it is a little 
lighter. Is it far, now. Perk ? ” 


MEETING BETWEEN TRAFTON AND BLOODY-HAND. 43 


Before Perk could reply, James tumbled over a 
great mound of earth, which had been flung out tlT' 
digging a pit, and rolled head over heels into the 
pit itself, which was some six feet deep. 

Are you hurt, Jim ? ” inquired his friend. 

A groan. 

“ Jim, are you hurt ? ” 

Awfully.’^ 

“ Whereabouts ? ’’ 

Let me feel. I’ve broke the crystal of my 
watch, and jammed my hat all up. 0, Perk, I wish 
I had never come to college. I don’t like being in 
college.” 

“ You ain’t in college ; you’re in old Wallace’s 
potato hole.” 

“ Can you get me out ? ” 

Perkins went back to the fence we have spoken 
of, and brought a board, upon which, with the aid 
of his friend, James managed to crawl out. 

My best hat is all smashed ; I have knocked a 
piece of skin off my knee, and my clothes are all 
mud ” (for James had dressed in his bettermost, to 
meet the chief of the Mohawks). 

“We must go on,” said his companion, “ or we 
shall not be in season.” 

They now approached the black mass of forest 
in front. 

“ Here are more woods,” exclaimed the discon- 
solate boy. “ 0, Perk, I never can get through 
any more woods.” 


44 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Life is worth a struggle/’ was the reply ; go 
on, or perish.” 

As they entered the edge of the tall pines, an 
Indian sprang suddenly in front of them, with up- 
lifted tomahawk. James Trafton forgot his fatigue 
in mortal fear, and could hardly suppress a 
scream. Perkins uttered the word “ Tonawando,” 
and the savage withdrew as suddenly as he had 
appeared. 

“ There are thousands of them all round us,” 
said Perk. 

They now found themselves in a broad, com- 
paratively smooth path, where walking was easy, 
and which Trafton’s companion appeared to tread 
with perfect readiness; indeed. Perk was much, 
more at home in the woods than in algebra or 
Livy. 

They now turned short to the right, into a most 
dense forest of enormous trees, clear of under- 
brush, and perceived in the distance a bright 
light. The ground, which had been level, began 
abruptly to descend. 

“ Now hold on to my shoulders, Jim,” said his 
companion, as he carefully threaded his way amid 
the trunks of trees and over logs, to the bottom of 
a deep ravine, through which flowed a brook, 
whose murmur sounded loud in the still midnight; 
on each side was a level space of about two rods 
in width, and “ black with horrid shade.” As they 
turned a corner of the ravine, they burst at once 


MEETING BETWEEN TRAFTON AND BLOODY-HAND. 45 


into the bright glare of a great fire, and Bloody- 
hand, surrounded by his attendant warriors, stood 
before them. The spot was excellently chosen for 
scenic efiect ; from the side of the ravine sprang 
an enormous hemlock, covered with long fringes 
of moss, casting, with its massive limbs, that pe- 
culiarly weird and ghost-like shade which is the 
property of that tree when full grown and aged. 

The firelight flashing on the dark, gnarled trunk 
of the old tree, the water that flowed beneath, and 
the half naked forms of the painted savages, pro- 
duced an impression upon the mind that might 
have shaken firmer nerves than those of James, 
not by any means unaffected by previous terrors. 

In front of the fire, and beneath the shade of 
the mighty tree, stood Bloody-hand, leaning upon 
a rifle. At his belt (in which were a tomahawk 
and scalping-knife) hung four fresh scalps ; by 
another, which crossed his breast, hung a breast- 
plate, apparently of polished silver, which glit- 
tered in the firelight, and a massive silver plate 
depended from the belt that clasped his waist. His 
face and body to the waist — and also those of his 
attendants — were fearfully painted with red and 
black, the black largely predominating. Perkins, 
now taking James, more dead than alive, his teeth 
chattering in his head, presented him to Bloody- 
hand, as one prepared to pay the ransom previ- 
ously agreed upon, and who desired to be assured 
of safety. The chief now commenced a conversa- 


46 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


tion in his native tongue with his attendants. This 
conversation consisted of Indian words without 
connection, copied from vocabularies which they 
had found in the college library, and committed, 
and which Morton, Hill, and Hathaway (no mean 
scholars) declared, cost them a deal of labor, more 
than their lessons had for a month. 

While the savages were thus conversing among 
themselves, James, who, with nervous apprehen- 
sion and twitching fingers, was fumbling for the 
money, discovered, to his consternation, that the 
tobacco was missing. When this was made known 
to Bloody-hand, his nostrils distended, an expres- 
sion of terrible wrath shot across his dark visage, 
and he drew the long scalping-knife from his belt., 
James writhed in agony; he clasped his compan- 
ion around the neck, and with the hot tears pour- 
ing down his cheeks, begged him to intercede for 
him. I know where it is. Perk ; it is in that hole. 
I had it in my outside pocket, and when I fell, it 
must have rolled out. 

Perkins represented the matter to the chief, and 
offered to go back and get that or more. In the 
mean time James was bound with withes to a sap- 
ling, and the savages sat down to await the return 
of the messenger. In about half an hour, — which 
seemed an age to James, — Perkins returned with 
the tobacco. 

The chief then declared to Trafton that it was 
well, and upon receiving the money and tobacco. 


MEETING BETWEEN TRAFTON AND BLOODY-HAND. 47 

gave him his hand in assurance of amity. He 
then took from his belt a tomahawk, — the head 
of which was wrought into the bowl of a pipe, 
while the handle, being hollow, formed the stem, 
— filled it with tobacco, then lighted it, and after 
giving a few whiffs, presented it to Trafton, and 
Perkins, and also to his attendant savages. This 
ceremony concluded, he presented James with a 
piece of birch bark, upon which some characters 
were drawn with Indian^s paint, to be shown as a 
protection in the hour of peril, and signified that 
they were at liberty to depart. 

When they came to the edge of the forest, Per- 
kins discovered that he had injured his leg, and 
nothing would do but he must lie down and rest, 
notwithstanding the entreaties of James, who now, 
in high spirits at his deliverance from danger and 
death, was eager to proceed directly to Radcliffe 
Castle, and there celebrate, as had been agreed 
upon. But Perkins was obstinate, declaring his 
leg pained him, and stretching out on the ground, 
wouldn’t budge an inch. James, not knowing the 
way, was forced to submit. 

After lying, as James thought, for an age, he 
took off* his stockings, and began to rub his leg ; 
while thus occupied, footsteps were heard ; several 
dark forms passed among the trees, and quicken- 
ing their pace to a run, were soon out of hearing. 

“ Who are those ? ” asked James. 

Indians, on a war-path.” 


48 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ I thought I heard them talking English to one 
another.'^ 

“ English ! you dreamed « it ; do you suppose 
white men could see to run in such a night as 
this ? 

After the passing of this war-party, Perkins’s 
leg grew suddenly beAer ; he put on his stocking, 
and declared himself able to proceed. 

The party which had attracted Trafton’s atten- 
tion were Bloody-hand and his associates, making 
all haste to Radcliffe Castle, in order to cleanse 
themselves from paint, doff their Indian costume, 
and be in a state of preparation to neceive and 
congratulate their victim upon his return. 

Slowly, with the aid of his companion’s arm, and 
a stake from the fence in lieu of a cane, Perkins 
limped along ; but as they neared the village, and 
he saw a light placed in a peculiar manner against 
one of the upper sashes of a window in the cas- 
tle, his lameness left him in a most mysterious 
manner, and he was able to walk as well as ever. 

Upon entering the castle they found a bountiful 
collation in readiness ; pipes and tobacco on the 
table, which it is, perhaps, needless to remark, was 
the same weed James, with perturbation, had 
placed in the hands of the savage, while the money 
he had given defrayed the expenses of the enter- 
tainment. 

Morton, Richardson, and Hill were getting the 
lesson for morning recitation ; the others were 


MEETING BETWEEN TRAPTON AND BLOODY-HAND. 49 


iaugliing and smoking. Fervent were the hand, 
shakings and congratulations with which James 
Trafton was received by his rejoicing friends. 

“ Why, Jim/^ said Morton, “ how pale you look ! ’’ 
Pale ! 0, Morton, you don’t know what Pve 

been through. Does he, Perk ? I guess you’d 
look pale, had you been through what I have, to 
stand before that awful chief.” 

« Why, we know : haven’t we met him, and ran- 
somed ourselves ? ” 

but he’s worse now. I tell you he is awful. 
There were bloody scalps hanging to his belt, and 
he was so large I could hardly see to the top of 
his head.” 

Was he bigger than I am ? ” 

“ Bigger than you ? He was as big as four of 
you. Mort, don’t you think, I fell into a hole, lost 
the tobacco, and never missed it till we got there, 
and wanted it to give to the chief” 

“ That was bad,” said Richardson. What did 
Bloody-hand say to that ? ” 

He looked threatening, and drew his bloody 
knife from his belt, the blood dripping from it. I 
gave myself up for a dead man then ; but Perkins 
saved my life. He told the chief how it was, and 
went and got it ; but they tied me till he came. 
See here, what he gave me ; ” and he showed them 
the piece of birch bark, which they examined with 
great curiosity. 

It was break of day when their repast was con- 


50 


THE SrAIiK OF GENIUS. 


eluded. Morton, Hill, and Richardson, under the 
stimulus of strong tea, spent the time, till the bell 
rang for morning prayers, upon their lessons. The 
others flung themselves upon the beds and lounges, 
and went to sleep. When the bell rang, all went 
to prayers, from there to recitations. 

The next student below Morton, in alphabetical 
order, was Murray ; the next above, Lincoln. 

“John,’^ said Morton, “ IVe been up all night. 
Wake me up when Lincoln has recited ; and lay- 
ing his head down on Murray’s shoulder, was sound 
asleep in a moment. When his turn came, Mur- 
ray waked him up, put the book in his hand, and 
his finger on the passage. Morton staggered to 
his feet, construed the passage, made a splendid 
recitation, sat down, laid his head on Lincoln’s 
shoulder, and was asleep again before Murray had 
finished his recitation. 

Morton, with all his abilities, was poor, and, too 
proud to receive aid from a society which helped 
Hathaway, was in the habit of doing chores for 
some of the professors and the president — sawing 
wood, taking care of their gardens, &c. Profess- 
or N., with whom Morton was a special favorite, 
employed him a great deal, as he owned and culti- 
vated more land than the rest. 

It was a scorching-hot morning. Not a breath 
of air was stirring. Morton, returning from break- 
fast, had flung himself on the bed, thoroughly 
exhausted, intending to sleep till study hours, 
having engaged another student to wake him. 


MEETING BETWEEN TRAFTON AND BLOODY-HAND. 51 

He had but just lost himself, when he was 
aroused by a rap on the door, and Professor N. 
entered. 

^^Are you unwell?’^ he inquired, noticing the 
haggard appearance of his favorite. 

“ No, sir, only a little sleepy.’^ 

“ You apply yourself too closely, Morton. You 
must not sacrifice your health. 1 think a little 
exercise will do you good. I have a piece of oats 
I want you to mow. They are full in the milk. I 
want them mowed in just this state to give my 
horse for fodder, without threshing. You can 
work till study hour, and then again at night, and 
rake them up to-morrow.” 

I will come over directly, sir,” replied Morton, 
who did not dare to tell the professor he had been 
up all night. 

“ 0 ! 0 ! ” groaned Morton, as he sat on the edge 
of the bed, holding his head between his hands. 

My head feels as big as a bass drum, and aches as 
though it would split open ; and now IVe got to 
go and mow oats this scorching-hot morning, and I 
don^t feel as though I could drag one foot after 
the other. Well, Bloody-hand, you must face the 
music. If boys will dance, they must expect to 
pay the fiddler ; ” and stripping himself of his 
outer garments, he went reluctantly to his labor. 

Hay after day passed, suns rose and set, men 
pursued the even tenor of their ways, as though 
the Mohawk tribe had not broken loose, and 


52 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


Bloody-hand, with his screeching warriors, was 
not on the war-path ; while Trafton, with the piece 
of birch bark secreted as an amulet about his per- 
son, was momentarily expecting to hear the silence 
of midnight broken by the terrific war-whoop, and 
the sky red with conflagration. Great was his 
rage when it became evident, even to his obtuse 
intellect, that he had been most essentially hoaxed. 

He at length reproached his companions with 
the outrage, which, to his astonishment, they, so 
far from denying, or even apologizing for, made 
light of, assuring him, if he would keep the secret, 
they would ; on the other hand, if he let it out, 
he would not only never hear the last of it, and 
become the laughing-stock of the whole college, 
but that, some cold night in the winter, they would 
take him out of bed, put him under the pump, and 
pump him within an inch of his life. Terrified by 
these threats, and further moved by the consider- 
ation that, if he had been compelled to provide the 
collation, he had at least eaten a good share of it, 
he concluded to keep it an inviolable secret — the 
wisest thing he ever did. 


THE MATHEMATICIAN IN SHAFTS. 


53 


CHAPTER V. 

THE MATHEMATICIAN IN SHAFTS. 

I T is a very singular fact in the history of the 
human mind, but familiar to all teachers and 
scholars, that there are persons of good acquisitive 
faculties, and retentive memories, who can get a 
lesson and seem to understand it to some extent, 
but are yet devoid of common sense. There is an 
inexplicable something wanting, a lack of tact and 
judgment, that forever debars them from making 
any practical use of their acquirements, and ren- 
ders them the fit tools and dupes of better balanced 
minds. This phase of character is, in common par- 
lance, described by various terms, to wit : ‘‘ He 
wants a regulator ; ” “ There’s a screw loose some- 
where ; ” “ Four and sixpence out of a dollar.” 

Uncle Jeremiah described it quite as graphical- 
ly while imparting his views to Squire Trafton in 
respect to the education of his son ; he told him 
that in his opinion the land was not worth the 
dressing. 

Thus James Trafton, with all his credulity and 
indolence, could get any lesson he had a mind to. 


54 


THE SPAEK OF GENIUS. 


He was very good in mathematics ; it was more 
difficult for him to learn a language, yet he could 
master it sufficiently to sail,’’ as the college term 
is, quite well in recitations. He was also pos- 
sessed of a most retentive memory, and, as he was 
intensely lazy, was accustomed to get Morton to 
read over his lessons for him. When it came to 
writing themes, he was utterly at fault ; but 
Morton here came to the rescue, and wrote all 
his themes, though not, indeed, without a con- 
sideration. 

The same principle holds good in respect to per- 
sons of far greater acquisitive abilities and power 
of application than he possessed, and without a 
particle of his credulity. There are many who, 
gifted with a capacity for acquiring knowledge in 
detail, by dint of an iron will and severe applica- 
tion, stand well on the college books, are excellent 
recitation scholars, graduate with honor, and rank 
high, so long as they are judged and upheld by 
that standard, who, when thrust upon their own 
resources, and exposed to the rude contact of 
practical life, where men are estimated by their 
specific gravity, subside as rapidly as the mercury 
in the tube of a thermometer when its bulb is 
plunged into a snow-drift, and find their true level. 

It is likewise possible that those possessed of 
minds well balanced, rare talents, and a kindly 
mingling of qualities, which, when in healthy ex- 
ercise, constitute what has been defined as the 


THE MATHEMATICIAN IN SHAFTS. 


55 


rarest of all sense, common sense, may, by an ex- 
clusive attention to theoretical subjects, living 
constantly in the realm of ideas, impair that 
balance to such a degree as to commit grave 
errors in the conduct of life, and even exhibit 
themselves in a ludicrous light. 

It may well be a question with parents who 
have the highest usefulness and happiness of their 
children at heart, whether it really (to use an 
Americanism) “ pays ” to send boys to college at 
sixteen, or even fifteen, with little physical stam- 
ina, and no practical knowledge, or opportunity 
to acquire it; to keep them at their books from 
the age of six till twenty-one, and then set them 
adrift to make their way amid the conflicting cur- 
rents of this stormy life, with merely the knowl- 
edge they have gained from books, to buy wit at 
war prices. 

The subject reminds us of a singular illustration 
respecting the extent to which theory often fails 
in practice, furnished by a venerated professor, — 
a most distinguished mathematician, whose works 
are still used as text-books in many of our institu- 
tions, — and which occurred within the compass of 
our own experience. 

He went to Bethel ; on his return he spent the 
Sabbath at Lewiston. Monday morning he was 
told the horse was sick. Nevertheless, he started ; 
the horse went a few rods, fell down, and broke 
both thills. He then sent his wife home, and also 


56 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


sent to Brunswick for another horse and carriage 
to take him and the broken chaise home. When 
the driver came, they lashed the two vehicles 
together and started ; all went well till they came 
to the first long, steep hill, between Lewiston and 
Brunswick ; on its summit they held a consulta- 
tion. The professor had an exaggerated idea of 
his strength, and said, “ Mr. Chandler, it is too 
much for the horse to hold these two carriages on 
this steep descent ; take the horse out ; I will get 
into the shafts.” 

Professor,” replied Chandler, “ the breeching 
is strong, and so is the arm-girth.” 

But the horse, Mr. Chandler ; it is too much for 
the horse. Besides being stronger, I know how to 
take advantage of the descent, and manage it much 
better than the horse.” 

“ If the horse can’t hold it, you can’t.” 

“ Do you, sir, intend to place me, in point of in- 
telligence, and knowledge of mechanical forces, 
below a horse ! I have made mathematics the 
study of a lifetime.” 

“ I have no intention to be disrespectful, sir ; but 
I know that a horse understands his own business 
— which is handling a load on a hill — better than 
all the professors in the United States. I was 
sent up here by my employer, who confides in me, 
to take care of his property ; if you will take the 
business out of my hands, and be horse yourself, 
you must be answerable for the consequences.” 



The Mathematician in Shafts. Page 57. 





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THE MATHEMATlCIAK IN SHAFTS. 57 

The professor had a habit, when a little excited, 
of giving a nervous twitch at the lapel of his coat 
with his right hand. 

“ 7,” he replied, with a most emphatic twitch, 
“ assume all responsibility.” 

The driver, in reality nothing loath to witness 
the operation, took out the horse, and held him by 
the bridle, and the professor, getting into the 
shafts, took hold of them at the ends. The for- 
ward carriage was just descending the hill, and 
the hinder one a little over the summit, when the 
professor trod upon a rolling stone, which caused 
him to plunge forward, and increased the velocity 
of his load so much that he was forced to walk 
faster than he desired, and exchange the slanting 
position — with his shoulders thrown well back, 
and his feet braced, which he had at first adopted 
— for a perpendicular one. At length he was 
pushed into a run ; the carriages were going at a 
fearful rate. At the bottom of the hill was a 
brook ; on each side precipitous banks. The pro- 
fessor was between Scylla and Charybdis, going 
nine feet at a leap. In order to cramp the forward 
wheel, he turned suddenly to the right. The 
shafts of the forward carriage went two feet into 
the bank, breaking both of them short off; the 
lashings of the hinder one slipped ; it ran into the 
forward one, breaking the fender ; and both vehi- 
cles turned over down hill, with a tremendous 
crash, the learned gentleman describing a parab- 


58 


THE SPAEK OF GENIUS. 


ola, — one of his favorite figures, — and landing 
some rods away. He rose from the earth a dirtier 
and wiser man ; knees skinned, pants torn, a piece 
of skin knocked off his forehead, and his best hat 
flat as a pancake underneath the hind carriage ; 
and looking round, he exclaimed, Is it possible I 
could have been so much deceived as to the mo- 
mentum ? It was prodigious ! ” 

“ I don’t know anything about momentum^'' re- 
plied Chandler ; but I know something about 
horses. I know it makes a mighty difference about 
holding back a load on a steep hill, whether the 
horse has two legs or four, and whether he weighs 
one hundred and seventy-five or twelve hundred 
pounds.” 

It cost the professor thirty-seven dollars and 
fifty cents to ascertain how much horse power he 
represented. 

James Trafton was by no means physically in- 
dolent. At home he had been trained to early 
rising, was always present at prayers, and in re- 
citations ranked, by the aid of his friends, above 
the average. 

The squire was enraptured with the progress of 
his son, and already, in imagination, beheld him a 
lawyer in large practice, with an income of twenty- 
five thousand dollars a year, although at present it 
was quite the reverse, the expenses of James being 
enormous. 

But the squire bore it all cheerfully, consider- 


THE MATHEMATICIAN IN SHAFTS. 


59 


ing it merely an outlay to be repaid with interest 
by and by. 

James inherited his father^s fondness for using 
sonorous words; and the squire picked all the 
hard words out of his son’s letters, as children pick 
plums from a pudding, and astonished his family, 
servants, and Uncle Jeremiah, by his indiscrimi- 
nate application of them. 

Great was the surprise of John Blair as he 
entered the parlor with an armful of wood, — 
where the squire was sitting with an open letter 
from James in his hand, — to receive the following 
reprimand : — 

‘‘John, how often must I iterate and reiterate 
my commands to you to wipe your pedestals 
upon the door mat when you emerge from the 
kitchen ? ” 

It is evident that James Trafton was quite in 
the power of his companions, and that it would 
have required vastly more force of character than 
he possessed to extricate himself from their toils. 
On the other hand, the connection was not without 
solid advantage to him. They were inveterate 
jokers, to be sure, put him to the rack occasionally 
for their amusement, and made large drafts upon 
his purse ; but he was born to be a butt for some- 
body, a sponge for others to squeeze, and fared 
much better at their hands than he would at those 
of the students at large ; for, if they tortured him, 
they also protected him. Not even the sophomores 


60 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


cared to meddle with the nest of hornets in Rad- 
cliffe Castle, and kept a respectful distance from 
its ramparts. If they took money from him as a 
ransom from the Mohawks, he had his share of the 
feast and the fun. If, as some philosophers main- 
tain, a certain degree of pain is necessary as a 
preparative for the highest rapture, he probably 
attained a far greater state of felicity through 
their efforts. In the next place, they were neither 
gamblers, nor, with few exceptions, intemperate. 
The convivial customs which at that period per- 
vaded all classes of society — when it was con- 
sidered almost an insult not to offer spirit to a 
friend who called to see you — naturally extended 
to the college, and many of the students drank to 
excess. One, by the name of L., not only drank 
to excess himself and gave to all who would drink 
with him, but had it brought to his room in a demi- 
john, labelled, in large letters, sperm oil,’^ as gas 
was not then known. 

There was an original character, christened 
Harry Semicolon, who did chores around the col- 
lege, and carried the clothes back and forth for 
his wife, who washed for many of the students. 
Harry had sold his body, for dissection, to two 
physicians in the place, for a barrel of flour, a 
jug of New England rum, and a pumpkin, — the 
body to be delivered by his friends when he 
was done with it. The contract was, that if one 
of the physicians died, the survivor was tc come 


THE MATHEMATICIAN IN SHAFTS. 


61 


into possession of Harry ; and in case the latter 
outlived them both, the contract was void. 

As the provisions and liquor would be of no 
sort of use to Harry after he was dead, he had 
been paid in advance, and had already drank up 
the liquor, eaten the flour and pumpkin, and 
seemed likely to outlive both the doctors, and 
come off scot free, especially as he would employ 
neither of them, and had been in his youth a rev- 
olutionary soldier. 

Harry was wheeling the demijohn of sperm 
oil up the hill one morning, when he met Pro- 
fessor N. 

“ Harry,’^ said the professor, “ Mr. L. must be a 
very close student ; he burns a deal of oil ; I fre- 
quently notice you wheeling up a demijohn.^^ 

Yes, sir, he studies very hard ; I see a light in 
his room very late.” 

L. took alarm, and bargained with Harry to 
bring up the oil before prayers in the morning, 
when none of the faculty were stirring. 

Now, Harry was accustomed, the first thing 
in the morning, to go to the store for his liquor ; 
he couldn’t eat his breakfast without it, and used 
to say, that if he put on a good back-log in the 
morning, he had a good fire all day. One morn- 
ing the store was not open when he went by with 
his empty barrow. He didn’t want to get his 
dram anywhere else, as he had a score there. The 
morning was Avarm, the demijohn heavy, Harry 


62 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


faint, and when he got into the college yard he 
could stand it no longer, but took a drink from the 
demijohn. It was better liquor than he had been 
in the habit of getting ; one drink was succeeded 
by another, and when Professor N. came over to 
prayers, he found Harry asleep on the ground, 
beside the barrow, drunk on sperm oil.” 

Playing cards for drinks and hot suppers, and 
even staking money, was by no means uncommon ; 
and James would have made a fine subject for such 
characters to pluck, and been both robbed and 
ruined. But Morton and Richardson, who ruled 
the sentiment of the fraternity in Radcliffe, would 
have no such doings ; indeed, the inclinations of 
the whole set ran in the direction of out-door and 
more healthy recreations, for which the locality at 
that period afforded abundant opportunity. There 
were salmon and sturgeon in the river, and trout 
in the neighboring brook ; and the lands around the 
college were, in the season of them, alive with 
wild pigeons. Early in the summer they would be 
in the young hard-wood growth, and, as the season 
advanced, on the blueberry plains and the stubbles. 
There were also ducks in the river and the brooks 
that ran into it. 

It was but three miles to the sesi-coast, where in 
the spring resorted wild geese, sea-ducks, shel- 
drakes, whistlers, coots, eagles, fish-hawks, and 
herons ; and a portion of these remained through 
the summer and autumn months : fish were also 
abundant. 


THE MATHEMATICIAN IN SHAFTS. 


63 


On a snmmer^s morning, just as the day was 
breaking, one might sit in his room, and, when all 
was still, hear the noise the pigeon makes at day- 
light, and go out and shoot a mess before the 
prayer bell rang. 

These students had what they called times in 
their rooms, but they were quite different from the 
hats of L. and some of the rest; there was no 
sperm oil. 

One of the fraternity would go out and shoot 
pigeons, and get Mrs. Semicolon to make a pie, and 
Harry to bring it over. He would make the tea 
and coffee himself, prepare the other fixings, invite 
the rest, and have a good time. To all these 
James Trafton was invited ; went with them hunt- 
ing, fishing, shared with the rest, and, whenever 
he was sick, they took care of him. It must be 
confessed, however, that he seldom went anywhere, 
or met with them, without in some way furnishing 
amusement, either voluntarily or otherwise. They 
also, considering the material furnished by nature, 
taught him a vast deal : he was by no means, when 
he left their hands, so easily duped as when they 
began with him ; if so, it was surely not their fault, 
seeing they improved every opportunity. 


64 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


CHAPTER VI. 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 

T the period of which we speak, the demo- 



Jl\. cratic element, which has since so modified 
the whole course of social and domestic life, had 
by no means assumed its present proportions. 
Although the revolution struck a death-blow at the 
aristocratic principle, it was full of vitality, and 
died hard. Great respect was still paid to dig- 
nitaries ; there was much of constraint in the inter- 
course of masters and servants, parents and chil- 
dren, and in the affairs of social life. 

An awful distance separated the president of a 
college from the under-graduates. Though in- 
fluenced, to some extent, by the personal character 
of that dignitary, the same principle, in a diluted 
form, entered into the relations of professors and 
students, and also of the students to each other. 
Senior dignity meant something in those days. 

The president of the college, at the period of 
our story, was a man of high attainments, univer- 
sally respected and beloved, but naturally of grave 
character. Indeed, then the president of a college 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


65 


was supposed to be superior to the common weak- 
nesses and foibles of human nature, and could not 
manifest them without derogating from his dignity 
and weakening his influence. The freedom and 
affability which the spirit of the present age insists 
upon, were then neither expected nor desired. 

An amusing illustration of the principle oc- 
curred about this time. The president, who, as 
the head of the institution, was chiefly responsible 
for its management, was not expected to know 
anybody ; there was to be no sort of social inter- 
course between him and the students, any more 
than with the stones in the streets. The relation 
was not that of parent and child, but of king and 
subject — a plank that had drifted down from the 
wreck of old aristocracy, and which was one of the 
last things to give way. 

When a student, fully alive to the gravity of his 
position, entered the sanctum of the president, and 
found himself within the atmosphere of that divini- 
ty which doth hedge a king,” he was accosted 
with, — 

Your name ? ” 

“ Green, sir.” 

“ Good morning, Green.” 

Good morning, Mr. President.” 

“ What is your request. Green?” . 

The student then went on to prefer his request, 
or, if he had been sent for, to state that fact. The 
design was, that there should be no partiality or 
5 


66 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


favoritism. The conservative spirit was now, liow- 
ever, beginning to give way before the more 
liberal tendencies of the age ; an inadvertency of 
the president gave it a strong push in the down- 
ward direction. 

Morton took care of the president’s garden, and 
performed other services for him. 

One morning, as he entered the study to re- 
ceive some directions in respect to the garden, his 
superior astonished him by saying, Your name, 
Morton ? ” 

Instantaneous perception of his blunder, coupled 
with an expression of blank astonishment pervad- 
ing the features of the student, compelled him to 
burst into a broad laugh. 

Had the ground opened beneath his feet, Mor- 
ton could scarcely have been more amazed. The 
astounding intelligence (the president has laughed 
in a student’s face) was soon known, and passed 
from lip to lip, through both college and town, and, 
as news seldom loses anything by going, became 
greatly exaggerated. No disastrous results fol- 
lowed from this escapade of the venerable man, 
who, having committed himself, became gradually 
less reserved, till in the hands of his successors 
the relation assumed a more parental character, 
one more in accordance witli the spirit of a repub- 
lican institution, extending both to the intercourse 
of teachers and scholars, pastors and people, em- 
ployer and employed, and the aristocratic spirit 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


67 


was buried in the grave with breeches, cocked hats, 
and full-bottomed wigs, for which it is hoped there 
may be no resurrection. It is a fungous growth, 
that does not flourish in the soil or climate of a 
land where one man is as good as another, if he 
behaves as well. 

Men of Squire Trafton’s calibre cling fondly to 
these relics of a past age, now fast passing away ; 
his mental stature was just sufficient to look up to 
and reverence the conservative element, and cher- 
ish all the surroundings which manifested and 
embalmed its spirit. 

He still wore the old dress ; in his estimation it 
had a majestic air, and there was much divinity in 
a full-bottomed wig. When his first wife died, he 
insisted on having salt put in the coffin — an 
ancient custom, growing out of the idea that the 
devil hated salt, and because it was the opposite 
of corruption and decay. 

Uncle Jerry, on the other hand, was superior to 
such notions, estimating them as so much old iron, 
fit only to be remelted and recast. Hence the 
ceaseless bickerings between them ; the farmer 
and radical was constantly blaspheming the squire’s 
household gods ; still they couldn’t live long apart. 
When there was no third party present, they got 
along measurably well ; but whenever the squire 
assumed an air of superiority in the presence of 
others. Uncle Jeremiah was sure to prick the 
bladder, whatever the result. 


68 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


The squire, in making his improvements, often 
found great diflSculty in obtaining skilled labor, 
and therefore had frequent occasion to resort to 
Uncle Jerry, who was possessed of great mechan- 
ical ability, and would in a very short time master 
the principles of work entirely new to him ; be- 
sides, the squire knew very well that when he 
hired Uncle Jerry, or his boys, a full day's work 
was done, and well done. 

The squire’s knowledge of Latin had never been 
very extensive, since he had only read Liber Pri- 
mus, and part of Cicero’s Orations against Cati- 
line ; and in this he had been assisted by his 
schoolmates, and had never read a line of Virgil ; 
yet he had quite a desire to possess classical 
works, and had bought part of the library of a 
deceased clergyman, among whose books was an 
old Dolphin edition of Virgil, with the following 
sentence written on the fly-leaf : Fortis dux in 
gutture fefelliV^ 

The squire, taking for granted that it was a line 
copied from the work itself, asked Sumner Good- 
now what it meant, and to construe it word for word. 

Goodnow, with the utmost gravity, thus began : 
fortis dux, forty ducks, fefellit, fell flat, in gut- 
ture, in the gutter.” 

The squire carefully wrote each English word 
under the Latin, to which, according to Goodnow, 
it corresponded, and laid the sentence by for 
future use. 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


69 


It was long before an opportunity offered for 
the display of the treasure ; indeed, the whole 
summer passed ; but late in the autumn, when the 
squire had gathered in the greater part of his har- 
vest, the apples were picked and put in bins at 
the cider-house, a cheese ground out and laid up 
on the press (perhaps some of our young readers 
may not know what we mean by a cheese : in 
cider-making it is apples ground up, and by means 
of a large, square hoop, and rye straw to bind the 
edges, laid up into a large cake), ready to turn the 
screws down upon it. The discovery was made 
that the beam was so rotten as to be unfit to use : 
here was a fine piece of work. The squire, in 
great perturbation, sent for Uncle Jeremiah and 
his two oldest boys. It was a good deal of work 
to put in a new beam ; but Uncle J erry and his 
two boys were equal to the emergency. 

They went into the woods, cut and hauled to the 
cider-house the butt stick of a large rock maple, 
hewed it out, and cut a tenon on each end, mor- 
tised holes through it to receive the large wooden 
screws, and Uncle Jerry cut the thread on the 
inside of the holes. 

The job was completed about supper time, and 
the squire invited Uncle Jerry to spend the even- 
ing. Highly gratified that his cider-mill was again 
in working order, he was in the best of spirits. 
After partaking of a bountiful supper, the squire 
and Uncle Jerry were seated before a cheerful 


70 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


fire, a quantity of books (the squire loved to make 
a display of literature) were on the table, and 
pipes and tobacco. The conversation naturally 
turned upon the subject ever uppermost in the 
squire^s mind — James and his college career; 
that is, the squire wished to direct the conversa- 
tion into that channel, but was at a loss respecting 
the manner in which he should introduce the sub- 
ject, especially as Uncle Jerry seemed inclined to 
discuss the price of cattle and timber lands, in 
which there was at that time a good deal of specu- 
lation. 

The squire smoothed down his silken hose, 
glanced complacently at his polished silver shoe 
and knee buckles, fidgeted, answered at random 
the questions of his friend, and longed to, but 
dared not introduce the matter nearest his heart. 
He imagined Uncle Jerry had a wicked look, as 
he sat glancing from beneath his shaggy eyebrows 
into the fire, permitting the smoke to escape slowly 
in a thin stream from his lips. 

Squire Trafton was extremely reluctant (now 
all was peace and good fellowship) to have any 
difference with Uncle J erry, which was often the 
result of their intercourse, and moreover was very 
anxious to obtain his advice in respect to some 
business matter; therefore, like a skilful general, 
he determined to throw out a feeler. 

He. had purchased a iicav carpet that fall — an 
article by no means extensively used at that time, 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


71 


when sanded floors had not been entirely super- 
seded by painted ones. Uncle Jerry still held on 
to the old-fashioned white floor, scoured and sand- 
ed, and even to the pewter dishes. 

How do you like my new carpet, neighbor ? ” 
asked the squire. 

“ Don’t believe in ’em.” 

“ Why not ? ” 

“ I call ’em hide-dirts, raal sluttish consarns ; 
when our floor’s dirty, Abigail sweeps and scours 
it, then puts on clean sand, and His clean.” 

We sweep our carpets every day.” 

“Yes, you sweep part of the dust off the top; 
the rest goes through, and lies there a year. I 
happened here when you was taking up your car- 
pets last spring ; and anybody might have planted 
potatoes on the floors : you had been living over 
all that dirt a year. According to that, you don’t 
have a clean floor but once a year, and then only 
a few hours, till you can get the rags down again. 
That wouldn’t do at all for cleanly people, like 
Abigail, to wash a floor only once a year. I should 
think it would breed a distemper.” 

The squire bit his lips ; this was certainly not 
very encouraging ; neither did it forebode a highly 
sociable and agreeable chat. 

“ Why did not the boys stop and spend the even- 
ing with William? 1 told him to invite them.” 

“So he did (much obliged, square); but they 
had work to do ; couldn’t stop any way.” 


72 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Do you think it right to set them to work in 
the night, after laboring as hard as they have on 
this press ? ’’ 

“ I didn^t set ^em to work. You see, square, 
John Wingate has raised a great crop of onions, 
and gives two cents a bunch for bunching ’em ; 
the boys want to aim something for themselves ; 
so they go up in his shed chamber and work even- 
ings. Sam can bunch eighty bunches an evening, 
and a hundred when the onions are large, and Tom 
seventy-five ; that’s more’n they can aim in a whole 
day at any kind of work. They’ve both on ’em 
got considerable laid by, which they’ve picked up 
in sich ways, let alone that each of ’em has bought 
a trunk and a good many go-to-meetin’ clothes. 
There’s Howard, who ain’t natrally so workish as 
the other boys, has caught foxes and muskrats 
enough to buy him a steel fox-trap, a knife, and all 
his school-books.” 

“ Neighbor Williams, you are a man, though not 
of large property, yet forehanded. I should not 
think you would like to have your sons ” (“ work 
out,” he was going to say, which would have caused 
an explosion directly ; he bethought himself, how- 
ever, and said) “ work so hard ; it is my opinion 
that parents should provide for their children; 
children certainly are very near.” 

“ Square Traflon, I’m not an avaricious man, 
though I know the Avorth of money ; allers did, 
because I knew what it was to aim it ; neither do 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


73 


I call myself a mean man ; when I see any of my 
feller-creeturs in trouble, I can’t feel right till I 
help ’em. I calkerlate to stand my corner, and 
never begrudge what I do for the gospel, the 
town, or schooling. As you say, children are very 
near ; the greatest comfort I take is in my family. 
I never worked so hard as I have, in heat and cold, 
night and day, just to get money to hoard up, look 
at, and count over Sunday mornings, as neighbor 
Skillings does ; the thing that has set me on has 
been to take kere of and leave a little something 
for my family.” 

“ Then I should not think you would want them 
to work so hard, but would like to see them sitting 
down enjoying themselves.” 

Marcy sakes, square, they enjoy themselves 
working. I don’t know much, but I know this 
much — that the happiest people in this world are 
the ones that have got something ahead they set 
their hearts on, and are pulling hot foot arter it.” 

Is that so ? ” 

^^Sartain is, square ; as sartain as you are alive 
and settin’ afore this fire ; and the people that take 
the least comfort are the do-nothings. If they 
have any trouble (as everybody must), because 
they’ve nothing else to do, they keep thinking of 
it, and rolling it up just like a snowball ; and be- 
cause they can’t have everything they want, — 
and nobody kin, — they go to fretting about that, 
till they forgit all the blessings they’ve got, and 


74 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


think they are the most miserable, God-forsaken 
creeturs that ever was; and so they be, and so 
they oughter be.” 

“ But if you work so hard to lay up something 
for them, why not permit them to live easily, and 
enjoy themselves as they go along ? ” 

“ And what is going to become of them arter 
I’m gone, and they’ve spent it, and don’t know 
how to aim more ? Hain’t I jest told you that 
they enjoy themselves working? that is, if they 
are lamed to do it ; otherwise they won’t. There’s 
Howard, he caught muskrats, and sold the skins 
till he got money enough to buy a fox-trap ; now, 
he enjoyed himself trying to get that money, and 
when he got that trap, he thought ten times as 
much of it as he would if I had gin it to him.” 

“ I don’t see how you know what boys think, and 
what they feel.” 

I don’t larn it out of books. Don’t I know 
how I felt, and what I thought, when I was a 
boy ? ” 

“ Do all boys think alike ? ” 

^^Well, they are much of a muchness. You 
think, square, I know you think so, that I work my 
boys hard — almost abuse ’em ; but I don’t. I 
don’t set in the chimney corner and say, ^ Boys, 
go ; ’ I git up, take my axe and scythe, and say, 
^ Boys, come.’ I give ’em schooling, plenty to eat, 
plenty of sleep, good warm clothes, don’t send 
’em out in storms, but I keep them steady to 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


75 


work, though T let ’em liave their play days. I 
larn ’em to take hold of a piece of work and carry 
it through, and try to tell ’em the reason of things ; 
why a thing is done this way or that. I do it for 
their good, because I love ’em, and because I know 
it will make men of them — make them happier in 
the long run ; boys don’t know what is best for 
them ; they only know what they want just now. 
There’s my Sam ; when he was younger than he is 
now, he’d be a hoeing with me, and Tom Bishop 
would come sauntering along with a fishing-pole, 
or a gun on his shoulder, and hang round the 
piece. I’d see our Sam kinder nestle, and begin 
to hoe faster to get to the end ; and then they’d 
get together, and there’d be a deal of low talking 
back and forrerd ; arter he’d gone, I’d say, ^ Sam, I 
s’pose you think it’s kinder hard that I keep you 
at work, and don’t let you run about gunning, and 
fishing, and doing nothing, like Tom ; but bimeby 
you’ll thank me for’t. I ain’t coming towards you, 
but you’re coming towards me. I’ve been over 
every inch of the road you are travelling on.’ Sam 
wouldn’t say anything ; but I could tell by his 
looks that he felt it was kinder hard, and would 
liked to have dropped his hoe and gone.” 

“ Didn’t Tom have any work to do at home ? ” 

Yes ; corn suffering to be hoed ; but his father 
would let him go.” 

Well, how did it come out? ” 

“ That was only a few years ago ; now there’s 


76 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Tom, a great hulking boy, no decent clothes to 
wear to meeting, or anywhere else ; he was invited 
to a wedding, and had to come to my Sam to 
borrow a pair of shoes ; he went to a trade, staid a 
little while, and gin that up ; he’s no way of 
gitting any money, for people have got the notion 
he hain’t worth hiring, and no he hain’t. Now, 
look at my Sam bunching onions in the evening; 
think Tom Bishop could get him to leave his work 
now ? I have hard work to keep him at home now, 
so many arter him ; and he’s thought of in the 
neighborhood.” 

“ But don’t you give your boys anything ? Mine 
are a constant bill of expense. O, the money 
we’ve spent for them and the girls ! ” 

Wal, 1 hain’t got a great sight to give ’em ; but 
what I kin give ’em, I give ’em in sich a way as I 
think won’t hurt ’em, and make ’em lazy, but help 
’em, and make ’em smart.” 

I should like to know how you do that, for it 
seems to me the more I give my children, the more 
I may. I’m sure I don’t know where it goes to.” 

“I’ll tell you, square. I says to Tom in the 
spring, ^ There’s a good piece of ground, Tom ; I’ll 
give you what you kin git off of it ; go and plant 
it.’ He’ll plant it ; bimeby there’ll be a broken 
day ; we’ll get our work done at noon, or in the 
middle of the afternoon. I’ll say, ‘ Boys, we won’t 
begin a new job ; you may rest, or go a fishing.’ 
The first thing you’ll see of Tom, he’ll be going for 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


77 


that piece ; no fishing for him till that’s hoed. In 
the fall he sells his potatoes or corn, and he knows 
what that money is worth ; it cost him a good deal 
of hard work ; he won’t throw it away ; he’ll take 
kere of it, and not buy jewsharps. Perhaps the 
mare has a colt. I’ll say to Sam, ^ Take kere of it ; 
it’s yours.’ I’ll warrant you that ere colt will fare 
well, grow well ; if there’s any good hay in the 
barn, he’ll git it. Perhaps a sheep won’t own her 
lamb ; I says to Mary, ^ Take kere of that lamb ; 
it’s yours.’ That lamb will be taken kere of. I’ll 
be bound ; she’s got six sheep she’s reared in that 
way, and has worked up the wool, spun, knit, 
and woven, made into clothes for herself, and some 
to sell.” 

“ That is a singular way.” 

“ Wal, it is my way. I want to bring my chil- 
dren up in a way that they’ll know what it is to 
aim money, and then when they come to have 
what I’ve got together, they’ll know how to take 
kere on’t ; not that I want them to bunch onions in 
the evening, or begrudge them a little money ; but 
they do it, despise to live on their father, and have 
a manly spirit ; and at any rate, square, it’s a 
fashion that’s throve well with us thus far. Don’t 
my children look as though they enjoyed them- 
selves ? Do they look as though they were abused, 
and worked to death ? ” 

No, I must say I never saw a happier family in 
my lifel They say you buy a piece of land every 
year. How is it ? ” 


78 


THE SPAEK OF GENIUS. 


This was a matter that touched the squire 
nearly, as, although he was possessed of a great 
deal of real estate, which was not only valuable 
and rising in value, yet in order to carry on his 
agricultural operations, and support the additional 
expenses of James’s education, he was actually 
contemplating selling a piece of land to obtain 
money. 

Sartain I do ; I have allers a yoke of cattle to 
sell in the fall ; sometimes two, some corn, lambs, 
and sometimes a colt ; then I calkerlate to buy a 
piece of land ; if I don’t want it, the boys will ; 
land won’t run away.” 

Our young readers must bear in mind that land 
was cheap in that day, especially wild land. 

“ It is a matter of surprise to me, that, so much 
attached to the soil as you are, you are not more 
interested in my improvements, which are made 
with the best lights, and on scientific principles.” 

“ Cause I can’t see the improvements. I don’t 
believe it is a betterment to go and spend money 
to dreen a piece of land, when ’tain’t good for 
nothing arter ’tis dreened, and one quarter of the 
money would have bought good land that didn’t 
want any dreening, jest because they do it in Eng- 
land, where land’s worth a hundred times as much. 
I don’t think much of this ere skience. Two years 
ago you wanted to find out how much hay there 
was in your western ground mow ; you was going 
to do it by skience, and kivered a slate all over 


SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOAR. 


79 


with figgers. I sot it in my own mind, and never 
made a figger. When it was weighed out, I come 
within eight hundred, and you didn’t come within 
two ton;” 

“ Don’t you think a person may work with the 
mind as well as the hand ? ” 

“ With course, they must work with both ; jest 
like the cogs of a water-wheel into a smaller wheel. 
There’s Joe Butler, as stout a feller as is in town; 
but his work comes to nothing, cause he’s got no 
mind ; the hands are like the hands of a clock ; it’s 
the inside work that does the business, and telli 
the hours.” 


80 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER VII. 

THE SQUIRE SOARS. 

A fter this conversation, there was for a few 
moments a dead silence ; the squire, leaning 
his head upon his hands, seemed absorbed in 
thought. Uncle Jerry resumed his pipe, permit- 
ting the smoke slowly to escape, and appeared also 
to be lost in meditation. At length the squire, 
imagining he saw an opening through which to 
introduce his favorite theme, in the discussion of 
which he flattered himself that he should be able 
to confound and silence Uncle Jerry, said, “Then 
do you not think that intellectual efibrt and 
achievement are more excruciating (he meant 
ennobling, but he got the word from his son^s 
letter, and James did not write plainly) than 
physical ? 

“ You must talk English, square, if you expect 
me to take your meaning. I don’t understand 
these forrin tongues.” 

“Do you not think it is more honorable and 
grander to work with the mind than with the 
hands ? ” 


THE SQUIRE SOARS. 


81 


“ No, I don’t think any such nonsense, without 
it’s more useful; then it is.” 

But is not the position of a minister, lawyer, 
professor, or student in a college, more honorable 
than that of a man digging in the dirt ? ” 

“ No, ’tain’t, without he’s more of a man, or it 
can be showed that he’s more useful ; ’tain’t what 
a man does that makes him honorable ; the honor’s 
in the man and his principle.” 

“ Jerry, I have no patience with you ; you 
would bring down that learned man, Parson Brad- 
ford, who can read Greek, Latin, and even Hebrew, 
to the level of a common farmer, and speak evil of 
dignities.” 

Wal, suppose there were no common farmers 
whose minds set their fingers to work to raise 
grain, beef, and potatoes, and Parson Bradford and 
his hearers had nothing to eat but Latin and 
Greek, how long would he have any people to 
preach to, or be able to preach himself? and where 
would his salary come from ? It sartain couldn’t 
come from skientific farmers who can’t raise bread 
enough to support their own families.” 

0, Jerry ! Jerry! where will you land next?” 
“ On my feet, square ; but where do you think 
you’ll land, with your notions about the calling 
making the man? According to your notions 
about the calling making the man, it’s grand and 
honorable to shave a poor man’s note, and put 
damaged beef aboard a ship for sailors to eat, 
6 


82 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


because General Thaxter does it, has got rich by 
doing so, and has a brass knocker on his door, with 
the figure of a dog on it.’’ 

Dumb with amazement, the squire leaned his 
head upon his hand, while Uncle Jerry, thoroughly 
warmed up with his subject, went on cutting 
right and left among the squire’s most cherished 
notions. 

Now, sence you bring up Parson Bradford, what 
did he say last Lord’s day in the arternoon ? ” 

“ I’m sure I don’t know what that scholarly man 
said that could have anything in common with the 
ideas you have advanced.” 

“ Then you was asleep. Didn’t he say the 
cross was what they put malefactors to death on ; 
that it was the most disgraceful kind of pun- 
ishment ? ” 

Yes, he said that.” 

Wal, what is the cross now? Ain’t it honor- 
able ? Don’t they make pictures of it, put it on 
steeples, and wear it in their bosoms? Wasn’t it 
the purpose to which it was put, and the Saviour, 
that made it honorable ? If he’d been hung by the 
neck on a gallus, instead of being hung by the 
hands and feet on a cross, wouldn’t it a made a 
gallus honorable ? Yes, and you’d be wearing it 
on your bosom. So when a man who is a real man 
stands behind his anvil and takes the hammer in 
his hand, or takes hold of the plough-handles, he 
makes ’em honorable.” 


THE SQUIRE SOARS. 


83 


“ Then you think your calling as honorable as 
that of Mr. Goodnow ? 

“ Men have different gifts, and one man is jest as 
honorable as another, if he makes the most of his 
gifts. Mr. Goodnow has a gift to teach ; he makes 
the most of it, and is to be respected, because he 
is a useful man ; and when he was here, he kept a 
good school, and did good in the town; but to save 
his soul, he couldn’t have put the beam into your 
press that I have put in to-day, nor have cut the 
thread of those screws I made for your hay- 
press.” 

The squire, at his wit’s end, utterly unable to 
reply to his sturdy antagonist, caught at the men- 
tion of Goodnow’s name to vary the conversation, 
and observed, — 

“ I received a letter from James to-day.” 

^^Did you? Wal, how’s he gitting along? 
Kin he hoe his row ? I should think he would be 
homesick.” 

No, he is getting along finely, stands very well 
in his class, and writes me that he has a fine set 
of classmates, who room in the same building, and 
are very kind to him. I have no doubt, none in 
the world, that my son will make a very dis- 
tinguished man.” 

“T have, though,” said Uncle Jerry to himself; 
the upshot of it is, he takes the boy’s word for it ; 
then, I expect, these classmates show him. ^ You 
can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.’ ” 


84 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


But lie kept his thoughts to himself, for having, 
as he would say, freed his mind with much less 
opposition and assumption than usual on the part 
of the squire, he felt himself bound in courtesy to 
respect the ideas of his entertainer : neither did he 
tell Squire Trafton that (having discovered that 
Sumner Goodnow was poor, and exerting himself 
to the utmost to get an education) he gave him a 
fortnight’s board, and when he closed his school, 
said to him, “ Mr. Goodnow, you’ve kept a good 
school, the best one we ever had ; you’ve kept 
good order ; my boys have lamed more this 
winter than they’ve lamed before in three ; 
you’ve been a raal benefit to our town. I wish you 
well, and want you to accept this,” and put into his 
hand two ten-dollar bills. In pursuance of those 
kindly intentions to which we have alluded. Uncle 
Jeremiah said (as he glanced at the books upon 
the table and through the open door into the 
library), ‘^You’ve got a master sight of books, 
square; are they all in forrin tongues?” 

The squire’s heart was glad within him as he 
replied, Most of them are ; did you ever see the 
Latin language?” opening a volume of Cicero’s 
Orations, and holding the page before his friend. 

“ So that’s Latin ; they’re outlandish looking 
words, but the letters ain’t ; they’re same as a, b, c.” 

Yes, we use the Roman letters.” 

I allers thought Latin was what we see some- 
times on the top of a newspaper.” 


THE SQUIRE SOARS. 


85 


That is German text/’ replied the squire, 
swelling like a turkey-cock on a sunny morning 
when the rooster is out of the way. 

“Jarmin, is it? Wal, I didn’t know; and kin 
you read it?” 

“ Yes ; listen ; ” and the squire, with majestic 
intonation, read the first page of the first oration 
against Catiline. 

But what does it mean, square ? I s’pose 
there’s some meaning to it.” 

The squire had, by means of a translation, suc- 
ceeded in mastering about half of the first oration, 
and gave the English. 

“ It seems there' was some kind of a rupture 
among ’em, a kinder plot like.” 

Yes, there was a conspiracy against the gov- 
ernment.” 

Some like Shays’ rebellion, I s’pose. I mind 
that well.” 

“ Yes, and this Catiline was at the head of it.” 

Wal, this Mr. Quickerow was well named; he 
gave it to him right and left, raal good.” 

“ There,” said the squire, opening another book, 
“ is a production that will endure as long as the 
world stands.” 

“ And what do ye call that ? ” 

“ These are the poems of Yirgil, one of the 
greatest poets the world ever saw.” 

And what did he write about ? ” 

“ About farming and war.” 


86 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ I don’t think much of book farming.” 

The squire was afraid to read the text, since 
Uncle Jerry might have asked him to translate it, 
which he was unable to do. To forestall this, he 
bethought himself of the sentence on the fly-leaf, 
and said, Here is a line copied out of the work 
with a pen ; ” and he showed it to Uncle Jerry. 

Read it, square.” 

^^Fortis dux fefellit in guttureP 

‘‘ What does it mean ? ” 

Fortis dux, forty ducks, fefdlit, fell flat, in 
gutture, in the gutter.” 

That’s nonsense, square.” 

“ Nonsense I Do you presume to commit sac- 
rilege, and an ignorant man to pronounce a line of 
Publius Virgilius Maro (born seventy years before 
the Saviour, and a friend of Augustus) nonsense ! 
Words that would be nonsense from the lips of 
others are divine from his.” 

“ I don’t kere who said it ; I’ll uphold it’s non- 
sense ; ducks ain’t got on their backs so easy. If 
there was water in the gutter, you couldn’t get 
’em on their backs ; and if there wasn’t, it don’t 
stand to reason that forty ducks would be on their 
backs at once. If he don’t know any more about 
farming than he does about ducks, he don’t know 
much. If that’s where you get your new light 
about farming, square, no wonder you don’t raise 
more. That Mr. Quickerow, he talked good sense ; 
but this puts me in mind of ^ Mother Goose’s Mel- 
odies.’ ” 


THE SQUIRE SOARS. 


87 


“ Jerry Williams/’ exclaimed the squire, “ 1 
can’t nor won’t endure to hear one of the greatest 
poets of antiquity, favored with the friendship of 
the Roman emperor, vilified in my house, and his 
works compared to the vulgarities of Mother 
Ijoose.” 

Wal, you needn’t, Jim Trafton,” replied Uncle 
Jerry, seizing his hat, and exclaiming, as he left 
the room, “ The next time you want a beam put in 
your cider-press, you kin send for Square Virgil 
and his ducks, or that ere Mr. Quickerow.” 


88 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

BREAKING THE FID. 

M any a pleasant spring morning is succeeded 
by a cloudy day ; and thus the social inter- 
view of Uncle Jeremiah and Squire Trafton, which 
promised so fair at the outset, was broken off 
abruptly and in anger. The old adage, “ Sin in 
haste and repent at leisure,’’ found its fulfilment in 
the reflections of both. 

“ What ignorance and assumption, and what con- 
ceit ! But I’m sorry I lost my temper. I have 
missed accomplishing the principal purpose for 
which I invited him — to obtain his advice in re- 
spect to that timber land ; but he’ll get over it,” 
soliloquized Squire Trafton, as he heard the outer 
gate slam behind Uncle Jeremiah. 

“ What a ninny I was, to care a straw for the 
old gander ! He’s not worth minding. I was fool- 
ish to say what I did ; he has given me many a 
good job, and his money is as good as anybody’s. 
But I’ll know about them ere ducks, for I’ll ask 
Parson Bradford. If that is the stuff he and 
the square spend so much time over, I think 


BREAKING THE PID. 


89 


they might be better employed ; but the squaredl 
get over it.’’ 

Such were the reflections of Uncle Jerry. After 
all, he felt somewhat flattered by the friendship of 
the squire ; moreover, many a dollar, in the course 
of a year, found its way from the pocket of that 
dignitary to Uncle Jerry’s. 

It was the wont of the farmer, once or twice in 
the year, to make Parson Bradford a present of 
wood, wool, or provisions. Shortly after his fall 
out with the squire, he presented himself early in 
the forenoon at the door of Parson Bradford with a 
load of dry wood. By way of replying to the ex- 
pressions of obligation on the part of the minister, 
he said, “ You see, Mr. Bradford, I’ve been want- 
ing to ask you a question or two for some days^ 
and so, as I was coming, thought I wouldn’t come 
empty-handed.” 

Come into the study, where we can be by our- 
selves,” said the parson, who (quite a humorous 
man) loved dearly to have a talk with the shrewd, 
observant old yeoman. 

Uncle Jerry chained his cattle to the wheels, 
gave them some cornstalks, and setting his goad 
beside the front door, entered the study. 

You see, Mr. Bradford, Square Trafton and I 
have had a little spat — a ruction.” 

Nothing uncommon, I presume,” replied the 
parson, with a smile. 

No, sir ; but what I want to know is, is there 
any sich man as Mr. Virgil, a Latin man ? ” 


90 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


There was, Mr. Williams; but he has been 
hundreds of years in his grave.” 

“Was he a great scholar — an understanding 
man ? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ And he writ varses.” 

“ Yes.” 

“ About farming, and a great war they had in 
ancient times ? ” 

“Yes.” 

“ That^s what the square said ; but, then, how in 
the name of goodness came he to put such silly 
stuff in his book ? ” 

“ Silly stuff! Why, what can you know about 
Virgil ? ” asked the parson, astonished in his turn. 

“ Why, about them ere ducks that fell flat on 
their backs in the gutter.” 

“ There is no such expression there.”* 

“ There is, Mr. Bradford, for the square read it 
to me, and I saw it with my own eyes ; that is, I 
saw the outlandish words.” 

The parson took down an edition of Virgil and 
opened it. 

“ Was it such a book as this? ” 

“ As much like it as my two thumbs.” 

“ And that was printed in the book ? ” 

“ It wasn’t printed ; it was writ with a pen on 
one of them blank leaves, before the beginning.” 

“ What did you say it was ? ” 

“ I can’t jestly remember the outlandish words, 


BREAKING THE FID. 


91 


only a couple of ^em ; this is the way it was : 
Fortis duXy forty ducks fell flat on their backs in 
the gutter. Because I told him it was nonsense, 
and a man that would write sich stuff and print it 
in a book to be presarved, was no man at all, he 
flared up, got on to his high-flown words, and as 
much as told me to go out of doors ; yes, he called 
me a preposterous, and if it hadn’t been in his own 
house, I’d a knocked him down.” 

Parson Goodnow, who was a close student, 
somewhat nervous, and not well able to control 
himself, burst into a broad laugh, left off, and be- 
gan again, till Uncle Jerry began to laugh from 
sympathy, although without knowing what he was 
laughing at. 

At length he said, “ Squire Trafton ” (bursting 
out again) “ is — is a good friend of mine ; I 
should be very sorry indeed to offend him ; but if 
you will promise to keep the matter entirely to 
yourself, I’ll enlighten you.” 

I will, Mr. Bradford.” 

Somebody has made a fool of him.” 

That’s impossible, for ’twas already done at 
hand.” 

“ Sumner Goodnow was at the bottom of that, I 
know. The squire is very fond of using words 
that sound large, whether he knows the signiflca- 
tion or not. Since his son went to college it has 
grown upon him ; he is constantly asking me to 
translate Latin sentences for him. I suppose it 


92 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


was the same with Goodnow ; and the forty ducks 
is a college catch — an old joke that somebody 
made up.’’ 

“ Shouldn’t I like to tell him of it ! ” 

Well, you can’t, for you have promised.” 

“ I know it, and I never will. Then Mr. Virgil 
is no sich man as that ? ” 

By no means ; and should you read his book 
in relation to husbandry, you would find many 
things corresponding to your own practice.” 

« I’m greatly obleeged, Mr. Bradford ; but I wish 
I had known it before Goodnow went away.” 

(( Why so ? ” 

“ I made him a small present ; but if I had 
known that, I would have given him as much agin.’’ 

“ I suppose you and Squire Trafton will get to- 
gether again ; you always do.” 

“I don’t know. You see, I told him, says I, 
^ When you want another cider-press fixed, you kin 
jest send for Square Virgil.’ ” 

The parson roared again. 

“ But, Mr. Williams, as I understand it, you 
didn’t say in so many words that you wouldn’t 
ever do any more work for him ; you only implied 
it; besides, the implication only extended to re- 
pairing of a cider-press ; you didn’t even imply 
that you wouldn’t do other work for him.” 

“ I don’t know how it will be ; but I know, if I 
do, he’ll have to knuckle.” 

I guess he’ll knuckle.” 


BREAKING THE FID. 


93 


“ It^s time I was on tlie road/^ said Uncle Jerry, 
rising. 

You don^t go one step from here till after din- 
ner ; so don^t say another word.” 

“ But I’ve got on my old clothes.” 

Didn’t I tell you only last Sabbath, that it is not 
the outside of the cup or platter that is of the most 
consequence ? Come, now, if you won’t make any 
more excuses, and will put your oxen in the barn, 
like a good neighbor. I’ll read you what Mr. Virgil 
(as you call him) says about farming, as I want 
you to have a better opinion of him.” 

I guess I’ll give ’em some more stalks where 
they stand; they’ll be more comfortable there in 
the sun than they would in the barn. But, if the 
square had read the book, why didn’t he know 
that varse wasn’t in it ? ” 

He never did ; he couldn’t read it.” 

“ Then how did he know what it told about? ” 
Goodnow told him ; or he read about it in some 
other book ; or perhaps I may have told him in 
some of the interminable conversations between 
us, and forgotten it. From your remarks, I infer 
that you were much pleased with Goodnow.” 

Liked him fust rate ; all our folks liked him ; 
not a mite of trouble in the house ; jest like our 
own folks ; and the children lamed. He was a raal 
blessing ; why, Howard cried when school was done. 
Now, he was a young man that had great privileges, 
and was raal gifted ; but it was a pleasure to talk 


94 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


with him ; he didn’t use big words, as the square 
does. There’s only one thing I ever had agin him.” 

What was that ? ” 

Why, his stuffing the old square about sending 
that boy to college ; that is, I suppose he did ; but 
it wasn’t right. His father thinks he’s doing great ; 
but I reckon, while the grass is growing, the horse 
will starve.” 

Uncle Jeremiah fed and watered his oxen; and 
the minister helped him unload the wood. 

Ministers in those days — the majority of them 
— owned land and cultivated it, working with their 
own hands, which banished blue devils, dyspepsia, 
black Monday, and obviated the necessity of going 
to Europe. 

After dinner, the parson sat down to read, and 
Uncle Jerry to listen to Mr. Virgil, making his 
comments as the minister proceeded. Before com- 
mencing, he gave a brief sketch of the life of Virgil, 
the design of his writings, and their character. 

, “ Wal,” said Uncle Jerry, “ it was clever in the 
man to give him back his homestead. Then it 
was a good thing in Mr. Virgil, arter he got rich, 
to give the homestead to his aged parents. I like 
that in him. But 1 don’t blame that man, if the 
girl was engaged to him ; and then this other man 
comes along, and her father gives her to him for 
fighting for his own. But let us hear about the 
farming. By the way, how did your corn turn out 
in the field by the brook ? ” 


BREAKING THE FID. 


95 


“Excellently well, Mr. Williams. I had fifty 
bushels sound corn ; before you go I want to show 
you some traces.” 

“ And your potatoes ? ” 

“ First rate.” 

The parson now proceeded to read such portions 
of the Georgies as he thought would be intelligi- 
ble and interesting to his auditor ; and he began 
with VirgiPs directions for enriching the land. 

“ThaFs right,” said Uncle Jerry; “ ashes is fust 
rate ; it is all that makes new land produce so.” 

He then read the description of a good colt. 

“ ThaPs it; them’s the marks fora likely colt; 
he knew something about a horse. I didn’t think 
they knew how to graft so long ago, but it seems 
they did. That is fust rate what he says about 
breaking steers, and putting ’em on to an empty 
cart fust. It puts me in mind of what Sam did 
with a yoke of steers that I gave him, when they 
were calves.” 

“ What was that ? ” 

“ Why, the neighbors round had a great notion 
of pulling oxen, to see whose cattle could twitch 
the most. Last year there wasn’t a house but had 
a great rock or log at the door to twitch. Sam’s 
steers were most four, large and smart. Well, 
you’d ’a laughed to see that boy work with ’em.” 

“How did he work with them? I should like to 
know, for T have heard there are no oxen in town 
can haul so large a load.” 


96 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


When they were young, only three year old, 
he'd hitch ^em on to the corner of the barn with a 
long chain ; then he would take up eight or ten 
links of the chain, and fid it with a little twig of a 
tree not bigger than a pipe-stem, and start the 
steers ; they would break it, with course. Then 
he would put in a leetle larger fid, and they would 
break that ; but he took kere, and never put one 
in but he knew they could break. So he worked 
with 'em till he got ’em to think they must break 
the fid ; and when they got to be four year old, 
they would twitch anything ; and now, if the load 
don’t go, neither yoke nor bows will hold ’em. 
There’s no oxen, big or leetle, in town, will begin 
to twitch with ’em. It takes half my time to make 
yokes and bows for ’em.” 

But,” said Mr. Bradford, ‘‘ your boy worked 
upon the same principle that Yirgil recommends.” 

Sartin ; that’s what I was coming at ; and it’s 
jest as good with boys as ’tis with steers — en- 
courage ’em.” 

“ That was the way, then, you taught your boys 
to twitch.” 

“ Sartainly. When you bring them steers up to 
a log to hitch ^em on, they’ll snort and paw the 
ground ; and the instant they hear the hook of the 
chain click, it’s stand clear, I tell you ; and arter 
they’ve twitched once or twice, you have to bring 
’em up head to, to hitch ’em on, and then call ’em 
round. It’s as much as a man’s life is worth to 


BREAKING THE FID. 


97 


hook a chain behind ^em in the woods. And 
that^s the way with Sam and Tom when there^s a 
hard job on hand ; they are jest as raving as the 
oxen, ’cause I’ve brought ’em up to think they 
must break the fid.” 

What else struck you as true and interest- 
ing ? ” asked the parson, much amused with the 
earnestness of his parishioner, and greatly inter- 
ested to remark the impression produced by the 
numbers of the poet upon a man of great natural 
abilities, who had very little education, and whose 
powers had all been directed into a thoroughly 
practical channel. 

Wal, what he says about seasoning wood in the 
smoke, that’s jest so. When I make a yoke, if I 
don’t have to put it right on to the cattle’s necks, I 
ile it and put it up chimney to season in the smoke.” 

I will now read what he says about crops.” 

Do. I should like to hear that.” 

When the parson concluded, Uncle Jeremiah re- 
marked, “ That is jest so, what he says about flax 
and oats, burning the land. It’s hard to get grass 
seed to ketch arter flax or oats; flax specially 
takes the strength out of the ground. What he 
says about letting the ground go fallow (though it 
ain’t necessary on our new land), about changing 
crops and burning stubble, about feeding down 
wheat likewise — I’ve often turned in cattle and 
fed down winter rye, when I found it was getting 
winter proud.” 

7 


98 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Then, on the whole, you like Mr. VirgiPs ideas 
about farming ? 

Yes, I do, Mr. Bradford. I like ^em much ; and 
what I most admire is, he does everything at the 
right time ; sows when it’s time to sow, and works 
the ground when it is fit to work. That’s the 
trouble with the square ; he’s allers out of sea- 
son, allers behindhand, and allers in a fuss ; when 
he oughter be hoeing, he’s planting; and when 
he oughter be harvesting, he’s haying. He’s all 
the year in a stew. His hay all dries up; the 
weeds eat up his crops ; his cattle are poor ; cows 
don’t give any milk, and he has to come to me 
to buy butter. This makes him cross ; he quarrels 
with the hired help, and is all the year jest like a 
cat running round arter her tail. Yes, Mr. Brad- 
ford, there’s some chaw to that ; none of your duck 
nonsense.” 


THE ARTIST OF RADCLIFFE CASTLE. 


99 


CHAPTER IX. 

THE ARTIST OF RADCLIFFE CASTLE. 

D uring the various night and midnight ex- 
cursions to which James Trafton was sub- 
jected by his friends, he caught cold, and was 
taken down with a fever. However much inclined 
to amuse themselves at his expense, nothing could 
exceed the unwearied attention and kindness with 
which they ministered to his wants in sickness. 

The rooms were constructed in this manner: 
There was one room of large size, with an open 
fireplace (stoves not being in use then, except oc- 
casionally a Franklin), — which was reception-room 
and study, — a good wide bedroom, and wood 
closet. There was no difficulty in obtaining leave 
to room out, as the college had not been estab- 
lished many years, and the college buildings were 
not numerous. No sooner was it ascertained that 
James had a fever, than his companions moved his 
bed into the larger room. Hill and Savage, who 
roomed alone, went in together, and HilPs bed was 
brought down and put in Trafton’s bedroom; and 
two of his friends slept there, one of them sitting 


100 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


up with him till twelve o’clock, and the other the 
remainder of the night. 

In the daytime, when they were at recitation, 
or engaged in study, Mrs. Semicolon took charge 
of him ; and occasionally other members of his 
class assisted. 

At length the fever left him, and his appetite re- 
turned. Though weak, he could sit bolstered up 
in bed, and it was no longer necessary for any one 
to sit up ; but some friend slept every night in the 
bedroom, with the door open. 

It was Morton’s turn to take care of him ; and, 
having arranged everything for the night, he 
jumped into bed. 

With all his other accomplishments, Morton pos- 
sessed a remarkable genius for sketching, and was 
forever at it. The recess in the window at which 
he sat in recitation, his seat at church and in the 
chapel, and the fly-leaf of his books, were covered 
with portraits and caricatures of the president, 
professors, his classmates, notables in the village, 
and Harry Semicolon and wife. He excelled in 
these, and was abundantly supplied with crayons, 
paints, pencils, and drawing-paper. It was he who 
painted Bloody-hand and his warriors when they 
took the war-path, and drew the mystic figures on 
Trafton’s passport of birch bark ; though, to be 
sure, in order to paint the chief, he was compelled 
to use a looking-glass. 

Not falling asleep so readily as he would have 


THE ARTIST OP RADCLIFFE CASTLE. 


101 


done in his own room, an idea suggested itself, 
which he hastened to develop as soon as he was 
assured by Trafton’s breathing that he was asleep. 
Creeping out of bed, he took paper and pencil, and 
placing the light so that the rays would not fall on 
Trafton’s face in such a manner as to waken him, 
proceeded to take his profile as he lay ; and like- 
wise to sketch the bed, little table with the 
medicine bottles, cup, plates, &c., on it, and also a 
portion of the wall of the room at the head of the 
bed. Morton was enabled to do this with the more 
facility, as he had already sketched and caricatured 
his features some score of times. He then knocked 
at the door of his own room. 

Who^s there ? 

I ; get up and let me in. Now, Rich, I want 
you to go down and sleep in Jim’s room. I’ve got 
to sit up a while.” 

What’s up now ? ” 

“ You’ll know in the morning, if I succeed.” 

(( Why don’t you let him rest till he gets well ? ” 

He’s well enough ; if it had been you or I, we 
should have been up and out long ago.” 

Morton sat down to his table, took from the 
drawer a very large sheet of drawing-paper, pencils, 
and paints. 0,” said he, “ I’ve forgotten one 
thing, now.” He ran down stairs, and knocked on 
Trafton’s bedroom window. Richardson let him 
in; whereupon he took the measure of a very 
small looking-glass, that hung on the wall at the 


102 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


foot of Trafton’s bed, and which had once formed 
part of a travelling case. 

WhaVs that for, Mort ? ” 

Rich, youVe one valuable trait of character.^^ 
What is that ? ’’ 

“ An inquiring mind.” 

“ This sheet is not half large enough,” said Mor- 
ton to himself, after returning to his room with the 
measure of the glass. “ I must have a good bit of 
that wall and room represented.” So he glued 
two sheets together. The surface of the paper 
was now ten times as large as the glass, which was 
only about five inches in width, and somewhat 
more in length. He now proceeded to enlarge 
the sketch he had made, as he transferred it to 
the paper, representing James in bed, of life size, 
the bed, and enough of the surroundings to occupy 
all the rest of the enormous sheet. There was a 
great disproportion between the breadth of paper 
and the looking-glass. 

Morton scarcely looked up from his work till the 
day breaking paled his lamp. Then stretching 
himself, and drawing a long breath, he held the 
paper at arms' length, looked at it critically a few 
moments, and burst into a broad laugh ; then hung 
it over the mantel-piece, and viewed it from a dis- 
tance. After adding a few more finishing touches, 
he put it in the drawer and turned the key. 

“ Now for the lesson. I shall be taken up this 
morning.” 


THE ARTIST OF RADCLIFFE CASTLE. 


103 


(( Why, Mort/’ said Richardson, entering the 
room, and glancing into the bedroom, “ you 
haven’t been abed to-night ; your pillow isn’t 
tumbled.” 

“ I haven’t stirred out of this chair but once 
since last night.” 

Richardson and Morton were the only ones of 
the fraternity who roomed together, which made it 
very convenient when they were going on sailing 
parties, or about anything in which others of the 
class were concerned, as they could all rendezvous 
at the castle, and the outsiders sleep with those 
who roomed alone ; or if, as was often the case, 
they went away or returned in the night, in order 
to make a long day. 

“ I never saw such a fellow as you are, Mort. 
If I am up one night, it uses me all up for the next 
day ; but you will be up all night, and not mind it 
a bit.” 

“ That is because I generally keep first-rate 
hours.” 

“ I know that ; but I should think you would 
mind it more.” 

“ There’s another reason.” 

“ What is that ? ” 

“ You know I am obliged to work ; that keeps 
my muscles hard, and I can go without food or 
sleep and not mind it.” 

‘‘ But you can sit in your chair, and study mora 
hours than I can to save my life.” 


104 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ That is because my muscles are hard. A per- 
son needs strength to think, as much as he does to 
lift a rock.” 

“ Then, after all, it’s no disadvantage to you to 
be obliged to labor.” 

“ By no means, because it gives me money and 
muscle, a clear head, good appetite, and good 
spirits ; whereas, if I was not obliged to work, I 
probably shouldn’t do it ; and be as you are, part 
of the time have the blues, be sick every time I 
took a slight cold, or, if I was broken of my rest a 
night, be all used up.” 

Morton and Richardson were not only chums, 
but the most attached of friends. Although diverse 
from each other, it was a diversity that only ce- 
mented friendship. 

Morton was poor. Richardson’s parents were 
wealthy and indulgent ; he was the only son, and 
had been always petted. He was of excellent 
abilities, naturally fond of study, thoroughly fitted, 
rather efieminate, with very little practical knowl- 
edge, and every whit as fond of fun as his 
chum. 

Morton was two years older. His father was a 
clergyman ; a ripe scholar, who, like many of the 
ministers of the day, eked out a meagre salary by 
tilling the soil. The boy studied with his father, 
and worked by his side in the field. Educated 
with great care, under the eye of the parent, and 
at the same time inured to toil, he had, together 


THE ARTIST OP RADCLIFFE CASTLE. 


105 


with a thorough drill, obtained a practical knowl- 
edge of men and things quite remarkable for his 
years. He was the youngest of a large family of 
boys and girls. His father had always devoted 
every dollar he could spare to the purchase of 
books ; and, when the boy was twelve years old, a 
wealthy friend had presented Mr. Morton with a 
large number of valuable books, many of them 
treating of the natural sciences, in which depart- 
ment of thought the reverend gentleman was much 
interested. Through the long winters, when there 
was little work to be done, the boy read, studied, 
and made experiments in chemistry, especially of 
an explosive character ; made powder, and being 
naturally of a fearless temperament, scorched and 
came near killing himself a hundred times. He 
could show as many scars as old Sicinius Dentatus. 
He had been butted over by rams, nipped by 
ganders, kicked by horses, had fallen from trees, 
and bore on the great toe of his right foot a scar 
from the bite of a snapping-turtle. Thus he grew 
up to be a strong, self-reliant boy ; generous, af- 
fectionate, conscientious ; devotedly attached to 
his parents, with a great fondness for out-of-door 
life ; almost insensible to exposure and fatigue, and 
with an uncontrollable love of mischief. 

Both Richardson and himself were so well fitted, 
having read more than was required for entering 
(and could either of them have entered as a sopho- 
more), that for the greater part of the freshman 


106 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


year the studies were review to them. This af- 
forded a great deal of time to “ cut up/’ and had 
they been less ambitious, would have rendered 
them indolent, and disinclined to effort afterwards, 
as was the case with Perkins, Savage, and Hath- 
away, who were splendidly fitted, and being able 
by the smallest amount of study to maintain a good 
rank for the greater portion of the fresliman year, 
formed indolent habits, and came out minus.” 

Morton and Richardson met as entire stangers 
at Portland, and took the mail wa'gon for Bruns- 
wick, to be examined for admission to college. 
The moment their eyes met, they were conscious 
of an instinctive preference, which was increased 
when they began to converse ; and before they 
arrived in North Yarmouth, they had agreed to 
room together, and had told each other all their 
hearts. This boyish preference was by no means 
diminished upon a closer acquaintance, for they 
were admirably adapted to each other. Morton 
loved to read, and, if he was not engaged in study, 
did not want company in study hours ; neither did 
Richardson. 

Richardson was neat, and liked very much to see 
a room in good order, but, having been accustomed 
to have things picked up and put in order after 
him by his mother and sisters, was not much in- 
clined to do it himself. But Morton was ac- 
customed to take care of himself, and keep every- 
thing in complete order. Richardson was timid — 


THE ARTIST OP RADCLIFFE CASTLE. 


107 


the result of having been educated by a private 
tutor, and associating always with his sisters 
(never exposed to the rough-and-turnble of school 
life), rather than of any natural deficiency ; but 
there was something irresistibly winning, truthful, 
and attractive about his whole demeanor, especial- 
ly to Morton, who loved him as he did his own 
soul. He was remarkably handsome, and, what 
was more singular, was the only one in the class 
who did not know it. He therefore leaned upon 
Morton, as the ivy clasps the oak. 

Although, in comparison with Morton and the 
rest, Richardson might have been esteemed ef 
feminate, and rather helpless, yet in one respect he 
manifested a thoroughly practical turn, being pos- 
sessed of remarkable mechanical ability, and ex- 
tremely fond of handling tools. At home he had 
a set of his own, and a workshop where he amused 
himself. He had not been long in college before 
he missed his favorite relaxation, and sent after his 
tools. He then constructed a bench in the attic 
of Radclifie, made a drawer to it, put on a wooden 
vise, and felt thoroughly at home. Here he em- 
ployed himself rainy days, and made many little 
articles of convenience and comfort. 

Morton^s favorite methods of relaxation were 
sailing, gunning, clam-bakes, or anything con- 
nected with the water. He had an uncle at Cape 
Porpoise, a retired sea captain, and cousins wlio 
were sailors. Morton was a great favorite with 


108 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


them ; and every year, from the time he was 
twelve years old, he had spent a portion of the 
summer at the cape, and had, under the instruc- 
tion of the old captain, become thoroughly versed 
in the management of a boat. He had a very 
tenacious local memory, and if he went into harbor 
or cove once, was pilot there forever after. 

Pike, who grew up in a seaport, aspired to the 
same knowledge, but generally got himself and 
companions into trouble, for which reason they 
never cared to go with him if they could possibly 
obtain Morton. But Pike was always ready to go, 
caring nothing for study ; whereas Morton could 
go but seldom, as he was obliged to work in the 
intervals of study. 

Pike was mentioned incidentally, in connec- 
tion with the Mohawk affair. He was not, how- 
ever, a Radcliffer, but went with them a good deal ; 
he was from the same place as Savage and Hill, 
and slept more than half the time with one or the 
other of them. 

Richardson expected, after breakfast, that Mor- 
ton would tell him what he had been about all 
night ; but he kept his own counsel, went to bed, 
and took a nap. The next afternoon, at recita- 
tion, a slip of paper was passed round, on which 
the following was written in pencil : “ Rad- 

cliffers requested to meet at No. 4 directly after 
recitations. Read and pass along.’* Signed, 
“ Morton.” 


THE ARTIST OP RAHCLlPPE CASTLE. 109 


Reckon you’ll go,” said Pike to Perkins, as he 
passed the paper to him. 

“ You’d better b’lieve it ; there’s something 
up.” 

I mean to come over to Radcliffe to-night, and 
sleep with Savage.” 


no 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER X. 


WHAT THEY DID AT NUMBER FOUR. 

HEN, at the close of recitation, the fraterni 



ty of Radcliffe entered No. 4, Richardson 
locked the door after them. 

“ Gentlemen,” said Morton, “ you will please walk 
into the bedroom, shut the door after you, and not 
peek.” He then took from the drawer the pro- 
duction upon which he had bestowed so much 
labor, and, fastening it to a board kept for similar 
uses, set it on the mantel, where it occupied nearly 
the whole breadth of the chimney. 

Gentlemen,” he said, opening the door, “ I have 
invited you to view a work of art, and trust you 
will find it true to nature.” 

“ It is a darky,” exclaimed Savage. 

A sick one, too,” said Perk. 

It is Jim Trafton ; that’s who it is,” cried Hath- 
away ; “Jim as a darky, and a capital likeness, 
too ; there are the table, the vials, and that study 
lamp he thinks so much of.” 

“It ain’t anybody else,” said Hill, reflectively, 

“ But what a queer picture ! ” said Richardson ; 


WHAT THEY DID AT NUMBER FOUR. 


Ill 


the bed, the wall of the room, are all brought in, 
and occupy ten times the space of the principal 
personage. What made you have so much of the 
'' room in ? ’’ 

There was a reason for that, Rich, that don’t 
appear on the surface.” 

“ What are you going to do with it, Mort ? ” 

Guess.” 

That’s the reason that don’t appear, I suppose,” 
said Perk. 

“ I know,” said Savage ; “ he’s going to show it 
to the fellows, have some fun over it, then frame it, 
and hang it up in this hall, to be handed down to 
those who shall room here after us.” 

You don’t think I would sit up all night, and 
take so much pains, just for that.” 

^^You like such things, Mort; Hhe labor we 
delight in physics pain.’ ” 

Do you give it up ? ” 

«We give it up.” 

“ I am going to make Jim Trafton believe he is 
that darky.” 

How will you do that ? ” asked Rich. 

“ You know he has a small looking-glass which 
hangs on the wall at the foot of his bed.” 

Yes.” 

“ The first thing that he does when he wakes in 
the morning, is to look in that glass, to see if he 
gains any ; you know he has an idea that he is 
very handsome. To-night, when he is asleep, I am 


112 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


going to put that glass a little higher, so he can’t 
see himself in it, then hang the drawing on the 
wall behind the bed ; when he looks in the glass 
to-morrow morning, he’ll see this darky, think it is 
himself, and that the fever or something has 
turned him black.” 

“ I tell you it can’t be did, brother of mine.” 

So you said. Rich, about the Mohawk ; but that 
was did, and did up brown, too.” 

What a rich thing it will be, if it can ! ” said 
Perk ; beat the Mohawks all hollow.” 

“ You know he’s dead in love with Miss 
Minot.” 

Well, he ^5 a fine-looking fellow,” said Hill — 
“ good form and features ; and till you come to look 
him right square in the eye, and hear him talk, you 
would take him for a right smart boy. If you can 
bring this to pass, Mort, I’ll say you are a coon, 
and I’ll have a pigeon pie in my room, and invite 
the whole fraternity.” 

I see difficulties — plenty of them,” said Hath- 
away, who was of a practical turn of mind, and 
incline to the opinion of Rich.” 

You always do, Ed,” replied Morton. 

Difficulties ! he exclaimed, striking an atti- 
tude, and with a magnificent flourish of his right 
arm ; “ who talks of difficulties in the pathway of 
genius, that puts a girdle round the earth, whose 
sphere is the universe, and its dwelling-place 
among the stars of heaven I 


WHAT THEY DID AT NUMBER FOUR. 


113 


‘ Up, comrades, up ! in Radcliffe’s halls 
Ne’er be it said our courage falls.’ ” 

^^Put that boy to bed; he’s dangerous,” said 
Perk. 

‘‘He is a very precocious youth,” replied Rich; 
“ he has aspirations, and already imagines himself 
a sophomore. I am sometimes apprehensive, when 
I lie down, for fear he will soar in the night, and 
take me with him.” 

“ I, on the other hand,” cried Mort, “ apprehend 
myself, while thus closely connected with him, in 
the condition of one of those living, writhing bodies, 
whom the god-contemning Tuscan chained to a 
corpse ; but I have glory-tinted visions of better 
days to come, when, like the insect emerging from 
its chrysalis state, and casting off its old slough, 
the soul, on pinions of green, gold, and azure, shall 
wing its way through the realms of infinite space, 
and placing one foot on Vesuvius, and the other on 
Chimborazo, stride onward to immortality.” 

“ A mixed metaphor ! he raves,” said Savage. 

“ It is sad to reflect,” said Rich, “ how mind is 
shackled in this work-day world: to-morrow we 
shall behold this sublime genius hoeing potatoes, 
or cleaning out the president’s barn.” 

“ Cleaning out the barn is a work of genius.” 

“ How do you make that out ? ” 

“I fling the loathsome matter from the stable, 
deposit it in the earth ; in a few weeks it is trans- 
formed into the vivid green of the foliage and the 
8 


114 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


grass ; that which is now unsightly to the eye, 
offensive to the touch, and at enmity with life, is 
changed into bread, which feeds the millions, and 
into the beautiful flower, flinging its perfume on 
the breath of morn ; cheered in my godlike toil by 
the reflection that I also am a benefactor of my 
race, and that Hercules cleaned out the Augean 
stables. Thus by a slight efibrt of the imagina- 
tion, I enroll my humble name among those of the 
heroes of antiquity, and exalt myself evermore to 
greater, and greater, and still greater heights of 
intellectual and spiritual strength.’^ 

I rather think,’' said Hill, he’s been taking 
some of L.’s sperm oil.” 

“ But really, Mort,” said Hathaway, “ I see lots 
of diflSculties.” 

I recently observed that you do.” 

“ 0, sugar ! stop your fooling ; don’t you see, if 
he moves to one side or the other, he will lose the 
reflection of the negro, and see the wall.” 

“ Can’t see it ; this drawing is very large, the 
glass is very small, which will allow him to move 
considerably to one side or the other ; besides, it 
is very little he can move, and we must be on hand 
and look out for that.” 

“ There’s another thing ; he can’t be such a goat 
as not to know the difference between the reflect- 
ed image of a drawing and his own face. Suppose 
he puts his hands to his face, or talks with his 
mouth, he will see that the darky don’t move his 


WHAT THEY DID AT NUMBER FOUR. 


115 


lips, or put his hands to his face ; can’t help see- 
ing it.” 

“ Hathaway, you are going on the supposition 
that somebody is trying to fool one of us in that 
way ; but we have to do with Jim Trafton, and 
may safely reckon on his stupidity and credulity ; 
besides, he’ll be so stirred up, he’ll know less than 
ever.” 

Suppose he should rise high up in bed ; he 
would see his own face ; and even Jim Trafton 
couldn’t believe he has two faces, or that he is 
white and black, both at once.” 

I tell you we’ll put the glass so high that he 
can’t see himself, except he gets up on his knees ; 
and we won’t let him do that.” 

At any rate,” said Perk, we can’t keep it up 
long, for we can’t stay there to watch him ; he’s 
most well now, and he would get up on his knees, 
or get out of bed, and find it out.” 

“We don’t need to keep it up only long enough 
to make him believe it.” 

“ He’ll send for Dr. L.” 

“ He won’t bring us out ; I’ll risk 

“ I don’t see how you’re going to keep it up long 
enough to have any fun out of it, because we can’t 
stay there long ; we shall have to go to breakfast, 
and while we are gone, he may move, and find it 
out.” 

“ I’ll watch him while you eat your breakfast ,* 
you can bring mine, and I’ll eat with him.” 


116 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


But after breakfast we shall have to eat our 
lessons, and go to recitations.’’ 

Take the glass along then, and leave him in 
the firm persuasion he is a negro.” 

He’ll want to know what it is taken away for, 
and will want to look in it.” 

I’ll manage that.” 

“ How are you going to put the picture up, and 
arrange the glass ? You must have a bright light ; 
he’ll wake up and catch us.” 

I have that all planned ; we’ll pin it up by 
daylight, tell him we want to air his bed and room, 
put him on the bed in the bedroom, and shut him 
up ; then we can arrange everything to our minds, 
mark the places on the wall with a pencil for the 
glass and the sketch. It will not be two minutes’ 
work to put them in their places in the night, by 
a dim light that won’t wake him. Are you satis- 
fied now?” 

I tell you, boys,” said Rich, “ Mort’s resources 
are infinite ; let us go right down and move him. 
Take the sketch, Mort.” 

Trafton, being now freed from fever, and with a 
ravenous appetite, was mending fast; indeed, a 
person of common energy, in his condition, would 
have been about the room. The boys, therefore, 
relinquished sleeping in the bedroom, and in lieu 
of it, placed a long stick by his bed, that if he 
needed anything in the night, he could, by knock- 
ing on the wall overhead, call Morton or Richard- 
son, who roomed directly above him. 


WHAT THEY DID AT NUMBER FOUR. 117 


That night, after Trafton was asleep, they per- 
fected all their arrangements, and all retired to 
rest except Morton, who (feeling that, as he had 
originated the affair, the responsibility rested on 
him) set off for the doctor, and, after making a 
confidant of him, inquired if it would be attended 
with any bad results. 

“ No,” was the reply, “ if you don’t continue it 
too long ; he has no nerves.” 

After making an arrangement with the doctor to 
call in the morning, he returned, and followed the 
example of his companions. 



DOES IT COME OPE, PERK? 


119 


Me / Am I a nigger ? ’’ 

No ; but your face, neck, and shoulders are as 
black as any G-uinea negro.^’ 

“ It ain’t me. I tell you I ain’t a nigger ; I won’t 
be a nigger. 0, what shall I do ? But my arms 
and hands are white,” he exclaimed. 

“ Keep your hands and arms under the clothes ; 
you’ll get cold,” cried Morton, thrusting his hands 
and arms (which he held up) back into bed, and 
packing the clothes tight over them. 

“ It must be the disorder,” said Hathaway ; per- 
haps it’s something the doctor has given him.” 

“ Perhaps it will wash off,” said Perk. 

“ 0, do make haste ; get some soap and water,” 
said Trafton, “ and try.” 

Savage procured some water and soap ; and it 
was a queer sight to see him rubbing with all his 
might, to get the black off a face as white as his 
own, while the whole company were making almost 
superhuman efforts to keep from laughing outright. 

Does it start. Savage ? ” 

Not a grain, Jim, that I can see.” 

“ Let me look at the cloth.” 

Savage placed the cloth before him, which, white 
with the froth of the soap, was without a stain. 

There’s not a bit of black on the cloth,” said 
Trafton, despondingly. 

“ Perhaps,” said Perk, “ if you took some soap 
and ashes, — that is what I scour my gun-barrel 
with, — it might start it.” 


120 


THE SPAEK OF GENIUS. 


0, yes ; do, Perk, do.” 

Perk accordingly rubbed abundance of soap on 
the cloth, and then dipped it in the ashes of the 
fireplace ; mounting the bed, he averred he would 
start something, and taking Trafton’s head between 
his knees, rubbed till he well nigh abraded the 
?kin. 

“ Does it come off. Perk ? ” 

Not the least mite, Trafton ; iPs no use ; you 
tvill have to make up your mind to bear it.” 

Ah, Perk, onl}^ think what it is to make up 
your mind to be a nigger — a black nigger.” 

“ You are not a nigger ; you have the same 
features and the same hair.” 

I might as well be.” 

It may,” said Hathaway, spread all over him, 
and his hair may turn to wool.” 

Trafton groaned. 

I don’t believe it will,” said Rich ; I think it 
is far more likely that it may disappear as it came 
on — suddenly.” 

“ Do you think so. Rich ? ” 

“ 1 certainly do ; indeed, I almost think I know 
so.” 

You are a real good fellow. Rich.” 

We are aware, Jim,” said Morton, very seri- 
ously, of your position in respect to Miss Minot, 
and feel deeply for you, as though the case were 
our own.” 

‘‘ You don’t know how bad I feel, Mort.” 


DOES IT COME OFF, PERK? 


121 


I have thought it all over, and there is one 
feature of it worthy of the most serious consider- 
ation.” 

What is that ? ” 

You have now an opportunity, which few of 
the human race ever enjoyed, to prove the depth 
and sincerity of woman’s affection. If she truly 
loves you, this will make no change in her affec- 
tion — only deepen it; but if she is only flirting 
with you, because she likes to have a student to 
wait upon her, get her a good seat at exhibition, 
take her to ride, and make her a few presents, 
she’ll drop you like a hot brick.” 

I’ll tell you what I would do,” said Rich ; 
“ write her, tell her that your features are the 
same, but, in respect to color, you are a negro ; 
that your heart is unchanged, and your affections 
irrevocably fixed on her ; and you will soon ascer- 
tain her sentiments.” 

“ I,” said Morton, have heard my mother tell 
of a singular circumstance, of which this reminds 
me.” 

Tell me about it,” said Trafton. 

Mother said there was a most beautiful and 
accomplished lady (she knew her well), who was 
engaged to a young officer in the revolutionary 
army. In one of the battles, I think at Trenton, 
he was dreadfully wounded — lost one arm, a leg, 
and his left eye. He wrote to her, told her he 
could not expect her to marry such a mere wreck 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


122 

as he then was, so absolutely repulsive, and re- 
leasing her from the engagement. The noble girl 
wrote in reply that she loved the man, not merely 
the body, and that nothing which had taken place 
could make any change in her affections.” 

“ If I could get such a girl as that,” exclaimed 
Hill with enthusiasm, “ I should be willing to be a 
negro.” 

I shouldn’t,” said Trafton. 

Morton now remarked that perhaps the doctor 
might prescribe in the case, saying, if one of them 
would remain with Jim, he would get his breakfast, 
and on his return bring the doctor with him. 

When the physician came, he expressed the ut- 
most surprise and concern. 

After feeling the pulse of his patient, he pro- 
nounced him free from disease, in fine mending 
condition, and seemed more puzzled than ever. 

I have,” he said, “ known nitrate of silver to 
produce singular effects in persons of peculiar 
temperament, acting as a pigment, and turning 
the skin blue ; but there is no medicine in the 
world, or mineral either, can turn a man* black. 
Morton, you had better remove that looking-glass ; 
a view of his features will only tend to depress 
him ; he ought, if possible, to forget it.” 

a Forget it I ” cried Trafton ; can’t you do any- 
thing for me, doctor ? ” 

“ I think I can, Trafton. If some of your friends 
will get some comfrey-root, grate it, mix it with 


DOES IT COME OFF, PERK? 


123 


the whites of eggs and Indian meal (I will write 
down the proportions), make a poultice, and cover 
all the discolored flesh with it, I think it will help it. 
Now,’^ said the doctor, aside to them, “ youVe car- 
ried this thing far enough ; but you must get out 
of it, somehow ; put on the poultice, and encour- 
age him with hopes of a cure.” 

While Morton removed the glass. Savage took 
down the sketch, thus obviating all danger of ex- 
posure^ and leaving James in the full persuasion 
that he was, as to complexion, a negro. The story 
spread like wildfire ; students came thronging 
to Radclifib to witness the strange phenomenon, 
but a few only were admitted, who had been previ- 
ously made acquainted with the facts, and tutored 
to express the requisite degree of astonishment. 
It was a singular scene, Traflon telling his class- 
mates how he felt under the terrible transforma- 
tion, and listening to expressions of sympathy 
from them, while his face was giving the lie to his 
own words. 

Having procured the materials, they applied the 
poultices, leaving just room enough to speak and 
breathe. Great was the anxiety of Trafton and 
his friends, when they came in, after recitation, to 
remove the poultices. 

“ I almost dread to take them off,” said Morton. 

“ Take the one off his neck first, Mort,” said 
Richardson. 

Morton removed the poultice. 


124 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


As sure as I’m alive, I believe it has done the 
work: get some water, Rich, and wash off the 
poultice.” 

I don’t believe but it has,” said Savage (who 
had smeared with ink the poultice Morton had laid 
on the table), ^^for this poultice is black enough.” 

It’s all right,” cried Rich, as he washed off the 
remnant of the poultice ; now off with the other 
one.” 

The result was the same : no sooner was his face 
washed, than Morton put the looking-glass into his 
hands. 

O, I’m all right ! I’ve come back ! I’m white ! ” 
exclaimed James, viewing his face in the glass 
with the greatest satisfaction. 

“ You had better take a good nap, now, Jim,” 
said Richardson. 

As Trafton lay in bed, he heard peal on peal of 
laughter from the room above, with some stamping 
of feet. 

“ I wonder how they expect I can get asleep 
with such a racket over my head ; but I suppose 
they are glad I have got over it.” 

“ Perk,” said Richardson, how could you and 
Savage keep a sober countenance while you were 
trying to rub the black off his face ? ” 

“ I did very well,” said Savage, till he wanted 
to know if there was any black on the cloth. I 
thought I should split then.” 

Yes,” said Hill, and when he wanted to look 


DOES IT COME OFF, PERK? 125 

at the poultice Savage had just been putting 
ink on/^ 

That’s what made me do it,” said Savage : “ I 
knew he would ask to see it. Did you hear him 
say to me, after he had looked at the poultice, 
‘ That doctor knows a good deal — don’t he ? ’ ” 

I,” said Rich, was about as much amused to 
hear Mort talking philosophy to him, as at any- 
thing. Miss Minot will be in a queer fix ; she was 
not particularly attractive to anybody but Trafton ; 
she returned his note unanswered, because she 
thought he was a darky ; now he has become a 
white man, she will miss the rides, <fec.” 

“ It seems to me,” said Morton, “ I have dim 
recollections of a pigeon pie, coffee, and other 
good things, that some one was to provide if this 
thing was a success ; or did I dream it ? ” 

“ Guess you didn’t dream it, Mort,” said Hill. 
“ I’m ready and willing ; when shall we have it?” 

“ Not till Jim gets entirely well ; we’ve had fun 
enough with him ; let us give him a good feast.” 

“ I’ll shoot the pigeons,” said Perk. 

“ And I,” said HathaAvay, will never see any 
more difficulties in anything Mort undertakes, 
should it be to get fire from an icicle, or draw 
blood from a turnip, — 

‘ To tlirow a perfume on the violet, 

To smooth the ice, or add another hue 
Unto the rainbow,’ — 

or to obtain sense from Trafton; I will not say 
thee nay.” 


126 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


“ Put him to bed,’’ was the cry. 

He has been sleeping with Mort,” said Hill. 

“ It was not so very arduous a work, after all,” 
said Savage, “to play any kind of a trick upon 
Jim ; if it had been any of the rest of us, it 
wouldn’t have been so great a success. I should 
like to see the fellow who could play a trick on me ; 
there would be some excitement about that, — 

* And the stern joy which warriors feel 
In foemen worthy of their steel.’ ” 

“ Put him to bed,” cried Rich ; “ now don’t go 
to depreciating. Savage, nor with envious fingers 
pluck a single laurel from the brow of the young 
lulus. That sketch of Trafton, if there was nothing 
more, bears the unmistakable attributes of genius.” 

“ Depreciate the genius of Morton ! You might 
as well strive to push a stone from the pyramid 
with your hand.” 

“ Put him to bed.” 

“ If we go on at this rate,” said Mort, “ we shall 
all have to go to bed. It is study hours ; no more 
fooling.” 

I’ll go,” said Savage ; “ I know the lesson ; I 
shan’t be taken up.” 

“ I was taken up yesterday, and the day before,” 
said Hathaway. 

“ I ain’t going to look at mine,” said Perk, 
stretching himself. “ Pm going to take a nap on 
Trafton’s bed, and say. Unprepared.” 


DOES IT COME OFF, PERK? 127 

ni go home and get my lesson/’ said Hill. 

“Get it here, Fred,” said Morton, “and yoo, 
too. Perk ; come, you’ve been absent from prayers, 
and said. Unprepared, or got screwed, half the 
time, lately.” 

“ No, I’m going down to see Jim.” 


128 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


CHAPTER AIL 

SOCIAL DISCIPLINE OF COLLEGE LIFE. 

B oil! S are much influenced by their associates : 

as they catch each other’s step, thus they un- 
consciously assimilate in sentiments and habits, and 
mutually act and react upon one another. 

If college life is environed with peculiar perils 
and temptations, it is, on the other hand, not de- 
void of corresponding advantages. 

Has a boy been unduly fondled at home to such 
an extent as to be deficient in stamina and hardi- 
hood, it affords a salutary discipline, one which 
tends to cultivate self-reliance. Is he credulous, 
disposed to take everything upon trust, it effectu- 
ally enlightens ; or if obtuse, it quickens him. Has 
he formed an overweening estimate of his own 
abilities, college life will take it out of him, if any- 
thing can. 

Minds of every calibre and quality are there 
brought in contact ; the attrition prunes away ex- 
crescences, and develops capabilities. There is 
an education aside from that of the recitation- 
room, which is a preparation for the exigencies 
of actual life. 


SOCIAL DISCIPLINE OF COLLEGE LIFE. 129 


The boy petted at home, the idol of his parents 
and grandparents, the object of affectionate solici- 
tude to €idmiring sisters, is thus led to value him- 
self in proportion to the estimation set upon him 
by others, and finds himself a freshman, rooming in 
No. 2 on the ground floor, near the door, but a unit, 
well nigh a cipher, among a vast assemblage of 
figures ; the object of inspection to keen-eyed 
sophomores, who, with faculties sharpened by 
practice, are taking the measure of his capabilities, 
and searching for the chinks in his armor. 

He whose wants have been always anticipated 
is now suddenly called upon to take care of him- 
self ; home is exchanged for a boarding-house, the 
society of parents for a chum, whom (perhaps self- 
reliant from always having been taught to take care 
of himself ) he looks upon almost with awe. 

Such, to some extent, was the relation of 
Richardson and Morton, when first thrown to- 
gether. But in Richardson all the elements of a 
noble character existed, kindly mixed, and, under 
the influences brought to bear upon him, rapidly 
developed. 

When the room was procured, which bore un- 
mistakable marks of former occupancy, it seemed 
to Richardson a very rough place ; and while Mor- 
ton was putting the furniture in order, he amused 
himself by studying the inscriptions in pencil on 
the walls and window-frames, — the effusions of 
college wits and philosophers, — some of which 
9 


130 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


consisted of emphatic warnings addressed to future 
occupants of the room, and pathetic complaints of 
bed-bugs ; or he stood, the very picture of irresolu- 
tion and dismay, till called upon by Morton to hold 
a portion of the bedstead, while he corded it up ; 
and then he let the bed-post fall on his chum’s toes, 
and did about as much harm as good. 

The next thing in order was fuel. A load of 
wood, cut and split, was dumped at the door. 
Morton instantly began to bring it in and pile it in 
the wood closet. Richardson, who had never per- 
formed any kind of labor, except with his tools, — 
and that consisted in making flower-pots, picture- 
frames, and work-boxes for his sisters, and trellises 
for flowers to run upon, — looked on with astonish- 
ment. Pride, however, at length prompted him to 
take a part. After the wood was all disposed of, 
he went to the pump for a pail of water, unpacked 
his trunk, and placed his books on the table ; and, 
when the curtains were down, a cheerful fire made, 
^nd the study lamp (brought from home, and con- 
nected with so many associations) was placed on 
the table, he began to feel more at home. 

Richardson had made up his mind that a boy 
who knew so much about what he considered 
drudgery could not be much of a scholar, but was 
very soon set right on that point. His respect 
and affection for Morton increased every day. He 
felt that he was, in a great many respects, superior 
to himself, possessing a knowledge of men and 


SOCIAL DISCIPLINE OF COLLEGE LIFE. 131 


things of which he was entirely destitute ; admired 
his self-reliance and cheerfulness under the pres- 
sure laid upon him by necessity, wished he was 
like him, and soon began, unconsciously, to im- 
itate him. 

They had not roomed together a month before 
he told Morton that he had enough to do outside, 
and he would take care of the room, insisting upon 
bringing up the wood and building the fire. In- 
deed, one motive that induced him to send for his 
tools was, that he might show Morton he was not 
destitute of practical knowledge, or, as Morton 
would have said, ‘‘ was good for something.’^ 

On the other hand, Richardson exerted a cor- 
responding influence upon his chum of a most 
salutary kind, softening asperities, and exercising 
a constantly refining influence. Morton, as is 
frequently the case with persons of his tempera- 
ment and energy of character, was prone to make 
use of rough, sharp modes of expression, bordering 
upon rudeness, and, during the first period of their 
acquaintance, often, without intending it, brought 
tears to the eyes of his more sensitive chum. But 
these excrescences gradually melted away and dis- 
appeared beneath the influence of his refined, gen- 
tlemanly companion, between whom and himself 
there were so strong an attachment and so many 
points of contact, each earnestly wishing to stand 
well in the opinion of the other. 

Morton was afraid Richardson would think him 


132 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


boorish, and Richardson that his chum would 
apply the term shiftless to him, as he often did 
to others. 

One evening, not long after the conversation 
which we have narrated, suggested by Morton’s 
sitting up all night to sketch, Richardson, after 
finishing his lesson, went behind Mort’s chair, and 
putting his arms over his neck, because he did not 
quite like to look him in the face, said, — 

You know what we were saying a while ago 
about work ? ” 

^^Yes.” 

Well, I’ve never forgotten that talk.” 

“ Hope I didn’t wound your feelings. Rich.” 

‘‘Not at all; you only made me reflect a little. 
Now, I want you to do something for me — will 
you ? ” 

“To be sure I will.” 

“ I want you, next time you go anywhere to 
work, to let me go and work with you.” 

“ You’re funning. Rich.” 

“ No, I ain’t, brother of mine ; I never was more 
serious in my life.” 

“ What do you want to work for ? There’s no 
necessity for it, as in my case.” 

“ I’ll tell you ” (taking a chair beside his chum). 
“ You said, that time we talked together, that 
labor was a benefit, aside from the fruits of it ; that 
it gave you muscle, made you feel first rate, and 
enabled you to bear more study. I want muscle, 


SOCIAL DISCIPLINE OP COLLEGE LIFE. 133 


to feel first rate, be able to bear study, and have 
some manhood. You also said, if you had not the 
stimulus of necessity, you probably would not do 
it, and be just like me. Now, I have an object. I 
want to help you, and be like you — good for 
something. Besides (laying his head down in 
Morton’s lap), I want to be with you ; it does me 
no good to walk for exercise. I don’t like to play 
ball ; I never learned how, am awkward at it, and 
don’t care to be with the rest out of doors, un- 
less you are there. Will you let me go with you, 
Mort?” 

“ Of course I will,” replied Morton, more de- 
lighted than he cared to express. ‘‘ Don’t you 
think I like to be with you, as well as you do 
with me ? ” 

“ You are real good, Mort.” 

You don’t know how to work.” 

I can learn. I didn’t know how to read the 
preface to Livy till I learned ; and, if you don’t 
look out. I’ll take the valedictory in hoeing pota- 
toes ; and you know you said it was a work of 
genius to clean out the barn. I think I shall choose 
that, as the more honorable.” 

I will resign the post of honor to you,” said 
Morton, laughing, “ and content myself with the 
less honorable position of hoeing and cutting 
wood. Your hands will blister, and the sun will 
scorch you.” 

“ I don’t care : I don’t want to look like a girl 


134 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


I heard Perk tell Savage, the other day, that I 
would make a first-rate girl, only dress me in 
women’s clothes ; but, girl or not, I can go ahead 
of him, or Savage either, in any college recita- 
tions.” 

The next week Kichardson went to work with his 
chum. After getting at first excessively fatigued, 
receiving sundry bruises and blisters, having his 
face peeled by the sun, and running the imminent 
risk of cutting off his toes with the axe, he ac- 
quired both strength and facility, and even learned 
to mow. 

The advantages of this course of life were soon 
apparent in sound sleep, elasticity of mind, a con- 
sciousness of strength, increased power of applica- 
tion, and the disappearance of the blues. From 
this prolific source resulted another benefit to all 
the inmates of Radclifie. In consequence of his 
assistance Morton found more time to go with 
them on excursions. It was now the very last of 
June, and a small species of mackerel came into 
the bays. The Radclifiers walked down to Mare 
Point to participate in the sport. Everything in 
the form of a boat that would float was in the 
water ; men, boys, and even women, manned them ; 
and some boys were on rafts, for the fish came into 
the coves, and the water was alive with them. It 
was a tantalizing sight to the students to stand on 
the shore, and see the fish flash in the sun as they 
were jerked from the water. 


SOCIAL DISCIPLINE OP COLLEGE LIFE. 135 


At length they found an old man, Uncle John 
Fisher, who, having been off fishing at sunrise, was 
now resting himself after dinner. He agreed to 
take them ofi* in his wherry, on condition — as he 
was tired — that they would row out to the ground 
and back again. He wanted to go about a mile 
down the bay, and fish abreast a certain point, 
where, he assured his employers, fish were very 
plenty. 

Richardson now had experience of the benefit of 
labor, as he and Morton were the only two that 
did much at rowing, Uncle John, meanwhile, 
praising them profusely, in order to stimulate 
their exertions. 

If ever boys were excited, they were when 
Uncle John dropped the killick at the spot, and 
looking over the sides, they beheld the mackerel 
darting through the water by myriads in all 
directions. 

They continued to fish till the sun went down, 
when the fish ceased to bite. They now had 
leisure to take account of damages, and estimate 
results. Uncle John, in fishing, flung the mackerel 
into the boat with a peculiar jerk, which unhooked 
them, and, with the same motion, the line was 
flung overboard. Mackerel seldom take the bait 
from the hook, and, when they are very plenty, 
will bite at whatever comes into the water. 

Richardson, in trying to imitate Uncle John, had 
stuck a hook in his cheek and thigh, though, 


136 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


fortunately, not over the barb. Morton had torn 
one leg of his pants half olf against a nail in the 
head-board; and they were, in respect to their 
lower extremities, wet to the skin. But they had 
caught two barrels of mackerel, and pulled in 
triumph to the shore, to take tea at Uncle John’s, 
and then walk five miles to the college. 

What will you do with these mackerel ? ” asked 
Uncle John, when they reached the shore. 

“ Do with them ? ” said Morton ; “ nothing ; they 
are yours.” 

“ Indeed, I couldn’t think of that. You have 
paid me for my services all I asked, — which, by 
the way, was a most exorbitant price, — and the 
fish of right belong to you.” 

“We don’t want them,” said Richardson. “We 
can’t carry them five miles ; we’ve had the fun of 
catching them ; that is all we want. They are 
yours. Uncle John.” 

I can’t think of that, young man. To-morrow 
I’ll get a wagon, take them to Brunswick and sell 
them, find you out, and give you the proceeds.” 

Against this they all protested. 

It was some distance from the shore to the 
house; and, while Uncle John was taking care of 
the boat and fish, the boys strolled leisurely 
towards the house, congratulating themselves upon 
their good luck in fishing, and discussing and 
extolling the character of Uncle John, who, they 
unanimously agreed, was one of those honest fisher* 


SOCIAL DISCIPLINE OF COLLEGE LIFE. 137 


men they had read of — unsophisticated and un- 
trammelled by the cares and wickedness of the 
world ; especially was this the case with Richard- 
son, who was enraptured with his guileless sim- 
plicity of character. 

“ I move,” said Richardson, that we put a 
quarter under our plates as a present, that they 
may find it after we are gone ; he is such an 
honest main.” 

The vote was carried by acclamation. Uncle 
John came up from the shore, and they sat down 
to eat supper. When Mrs. Fisher ascertained the 
subject-matter of discussion at the boat, It is a 
pity,” said she, that the young gentlemen 
shouldnT take their fish home with them. I think 
I could contrive a way in which they might at 
least take part of them. I think I could find some 
bags in the house — ” 

No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher ! ” ex- 
claimed Uncle John, in stern tones. 

There were no quarters put under the plates, 
and the boys never heard any more of the fish. 

The veil of romance was rudely swept away, 
and Richardson learned his first sad lesson in re- 
spect to the ways of the world, and honest fisher- 
men in particular. 

“ No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher,” be- 
came a catch-word at Radclifie Castle. 


138 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT’S TAIL. 

R ichardson was highly gratified with his 
share of the voyage in Uncle Fisher’s wherry, 
since he had vindicated his manhood, and pulled 
both Perkins and Savage round. 

“ They won’t tell any more about my being a 
girl, Mort. So much for helping you and getting 
up muscle ; my hands ain’t blistered a mite.” 

It is just the best thing you can do ; it will 
make you grow, and you will be a real strong fel- 
low ; for you are large of your age and well built. 
You’ll see to-morrow those fellows will be all used 
up, absent from prayers, and say, Unprepared, at 
recitations ; while we shall be up betimes, as fresh 
as a rose, and get our lessons.” 

Morton was a curious fellow, always thinking 
and investigating ; possessed of a memory that 
never surrendered anything once committed to its 
keeping, whether obtained from reading, in casual 
conversation, or the result of study ; and was pos- 
sessed of a great deal of knowledge in respect 
to matters in which youth are not generally 
interested. 


SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT^S TAIL. 139 


It was not in accordance with Morton’s ideas to 
do anything by the halves ; and he now engaged 
in an affair, which, though good resulted from it, 
was wrong, utterly inconsistent with his notions of 
right, in general very clearly defined, and troubled 
his conscience not a little. With all his manly 
qualities and nobleness of spirit, he had one weak 
point in his character, one fault, which he at length 
rose superior to. It is one that has caused the 
ruin of hundreds, and been the occasion of many a 
duel. He could not endure anything of the nature 
of a challenge, even though it were a challenge to 
do wrong. Tell him he must not, or could not, do 
anything, he would endure any amount of labor, 
and even peril life and limb to accomplish it. 

On the afternoon that the fraternity were laugh- 
ing over the tricks played upon students, he heard 
the remarks of Savage, that it was an easy matter 
to play a trick on Trafton, but if it had been one 
of the rest, it would have been another affair, and 
he should like to see the fellow who could play a 
trick on him. This seemed to Morton very much 
like a challenge ; and he determined then and 
there, if it were possible, to play a similar trick on 
Savage himself, but to bide his time, take the mat- 
ter into serious consideration, and, well aware that 
he had not Trafton to deal with, take his measures 
accordingly. Great were the chagrin and aston- 
ishment of Miss Minot, when, on Sabbath morning, 
James took his seat in church among his class- 


140 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


mates, arrayed in his best, and as white as ever ; 
and no doubt she regretted her hasty decision, as 
she lived and died in a state of single blessedness. 
James Trafton having fully recovered. Hill pre- 
pared his supper and invited his friends ; but just 
as they were about to sit down, a carriage drove up, 
in which were Lowell and Ferguson. Lowell had 
been called home by the sickness of his mother, 
and Ferguson had been sick himself. They were 
joyfully received, and immediately invited up. 
They were neither of them disposed to mischief, 
but safe confidants, and very much liked by the 
others. They were privy to the Mohawk affair, 
although they took no active part in it, save that 
Lowell made the head-dress of Bloody-hand, and 
Ferguson obtained a scalping-knife from one of his 
relatives. They were accordingly very much 
interested and astonished when Trafton informed 
them of all he had passed tlirough during their 
absence, and extolled the skill of Hr. L. to the 
skies. 

Two days after this, Morton was pulling up rag- 
weed and barn-grass among the potatoes, as they 
were too large to hoe, when he fell into a reverie, 
in relation to what subject our readers may guess ; 
and upon recovering himself, he found, to his sor- 
row and astonishment, that, instead of weeds, he 
had pulled up two hills of the president’s potatoes. 
When Morton had matured his plan, and the time 
approached for its execution, he resolved to have 


SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT’s TAIL. 141 


neither companion nor confidant, not even Rich ; 
and no Indian of the Six Nations ever knew how 
to conceal his trail better than Morton. One cir- 
cumstance was favorable : Richardson was a very 
sound sleeper ; you might get in and out of bed a 
dozen times and not wake him, and he slept on the 
back side. 

His first proceeding was (when the inmates 
were all out of the hall) to investigate the 
• premises. Savage roomed in the second story, 
alone ; over him was the attic. There was no 
plastering over the wood closet, only a loose floor ; 
and in the end of the closet was a pile of wood, 
left over from the previous winter. Clambering 
up on this, Morton found he could remove a 
board. This settled the matter of ingress and 
egress. 

Morton recollected that his uncle had often told 
him about the habit of the Turks of smoking opium, 
and its effects in producing sleep, and wrote to him 
to ascertain the quantity to be used without pro- 
ducing injurious effects, and obtained full par- 
ticulars. The captain, sailor-like, after putting 
him on the road, wound up with, “ You^d better 
let it alone, you young scapegrace ; your father 
had better send you to sea, and make a man 
of you.” 

Too wary to make a confidant of Dr. L., besides 
not wishing to place him in unpleasant relations, 
he, without the knowledge even of his chum, 


142 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


walked to Bath, where he was not known, and pro- 
cured what opium he wanted, also a certain acid, 
ammonia, and a Florence oil-flask. Only one article 
was now wanting, and that was the most difficult 
of all to be procured. 

Morton had plenty of brains ; but of silver, which 
was now necessary, he had, after paying his wash- 
bill and room-rent, but one dollar ; and this he had, 
by dint of hard work and great economy, been 
saving for a particular purpose. 

It was two days before the Fourth of July; 
there were to be great doings in Portland at that 
time ; a military parade, fireworks let off from the 
platform of the Observatory, and a great wrestling 
match. A battery of very heavy cannon, mounted 
on great red carriages, stood in a redoubt near 
where the Portland Company’s Works now stand ; 
these the artillery company were going to fire. 

On the declivity of the hill was a colony of 
blacks; two of them. Rush Shephard and Jack 
Groves, were to have what now, in classical lan- 
guage, would be called a “mill,” but was then 
called a ram-fight ; that is, they were to butt at 
each other with their heads — a favorite negro 
method of fighting. There was also to be an ora- 
tion ; and as party spirit ran high at that period, 
the students were anxious to hear it. 

The Radcliffers were all going, and for this pur- 
pose Morton had saved his money. He knew the 
worth of a dollar, and how much labor was re- 


SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT’S TAIL. 143 


quired to earn it, as well as any of Uncle Jeremiah's 
boys ; and he was of a generous nature, although 
without the means of gratifying it. 

Three miles from college was Maquoit Bay 
where was a wharf, from which ran the sloop Jane^ 
forty-two tons, commanded by Captain Anthony 
Chase. His charge for fare to Portland was fifty 
cents ; and as Bichardson had an uncle and Hill a 
brother there, where they were invited to stop, 
Morton’s dollar would just pay his fare there anrl 
back, not leaving him a cent for spending-money. 
The president, indeed, owed him a quarter, and 
Professor N. a pistareen, which he hoped they 
would olfer to pay, but he would not ask them. 

There was, however, no lack of money in tlie 
fraternity. Bichardson had plenty, and so had 
Trafton ; for the old squire’s pride and satisfaction 
at his son’s success led him to allow him plenty of. 
spending-money, though he groaned under trie 
load like Enceladus beneath the mountain. Fergii 
son and Lowell also had plenty, and were ready to 
divide. 

Morton wanted three silver dollars for his pax 
pose. Should he give up Fourth of July, save 
that dollar, and try in some way to earn a couple 
more, or go to the Fourth, and put off his designs 
upon Savage to an indefinite period, was the qu'es 
tion Morton was debating in his own mind, when, 
instead of barn-grass, he pulled up two hills of the 
president’s potatoes. 


144 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


His difficulty was, however, removed in a man- 
ner quite unexpected. 

In the neighborhood of the college lived a 
farmer by the name of Beals, who cut a large 
quantity of hay. In the winter he supplied the 
president and Professor N. with wood, and in 
summer often brought meat and fruit, and thus 
became acquainted with Morton. There was a 
general prejudice among the people out of the 
village (who received no benefit, but rather the 
contrary, from them) against the students, in 
which Mr. Beals, who kept large flocks of turkeys, 
geese, and hens, fully shared. But Morton, who 
was always pleasant, full of fun, and helped him 
unload his wood, had completely won the old 
farmer^s heart. He believed in Morton, praised 
him in his family and everywhere. “ There^s a 
young man that’s one of your real sort; none of 
your stuck-up chaps ; knows how to work, and has 
got the sarvice in him. He’ll make a man, my 
word for it.” 

It happened, the fall before, they got to talking 
about what they liked to eat. Morton said there 
was nothing he liked better, about Christmas, than 
a hog’s harslet fried with onions, and fried apples 
to eat with it, and wished he could be at home to 
get some. 

^^You needn’t go home for that, Mr. Morton. 
I’m going to butcher a hog next week Thursday, 
and if you’ll come down to our house to tea, you 


SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT^S TAIL. 145 


«hall be as welcome as a shower in June, have all 
the harslet you can eat, all the new cider you can 
drink, stay all night, and in the morning Ben 
shall take the horse and carry you up in time for 
prayers.” 

“ I am much obliged to you, Mr. Beals ; 1 should 
like nothing better. Pll get my lessons before- 
hand, get excused from the evening prayers, and 
come.” 

While Morton was upbraiding himself for his 
negligence in pulling up the potatoes, Mr. Beals 
drove up in his wagon with lamb and eggs. 

“ Good morning, Mr. Beals.” 

Mornin’.” 

“ Fine growing weather. I suppose you^re be- 
ginning to think about haying.” 

‘‘ Think about it ! IVe begun.” 

Begun ! ” 

We don’t calculate to begin never till arter the 
Fourth ; but I had grass lodged, and was afraid 
’twould rot ; so I cut a lot of it ; wish I hadn’t.” 

n Why so ? It’s nice hay weather.” 

“ I know it is now, and the hay will all be 
bunched up to-night, and, if opened to-morrow, 
would do to go into the barn next day ; but the 
boys are all crazy to go to Portland in the sloop. 
I don’t like to say no. They are good boys to 
work, but I hate mortally to have hay get wet 
when it’s fit to go in. If I could hire one hand to 
help me, 1 would get it in ; one of the gals could 
10 


146 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


build the load, on a pinch ; but I don^t s^pose you 
could hire anybody to work Fourth of July for 
love or money.” 

ril help you, Mr. Beals, to-morrow, the Fourth, 
and the day after, if you want me as long.” 

“ Then I’m all right ; you and I can open the 
hay ; you can pitch on, and I will rake arter the 
cart and pitch off ; one of the gals can build the 
toad, and you can stow away in the mow. Wages 
rtere, in haying-time, are a dollar ; but seeing it’s 
An extra time. I’ll give you a dollar and a quarter.” 

" I’ll be there by sunrise.” 

Wal, I’ve got some hoeing to be done till the 
^ew- is off.” 

Grreat was the chagrin of the Badcliffers when 
They found Morton was not going with them, 
especially Richardson, who tried, but in vain, to 
persuade him to change his mind. 

They got all the hay into the barn Fourth of 
July night; but Mr. Beals kept Morton the next 
day, as he wanted to finish some hoeing before 
haying. 

Morton, having received his money, reached his 
room about eight o’clock ; the wind being light, the 
others had not arrived. He was quite flush now, 
having lour dollars and seventy-five cents in silver, 
and debated long with himself (holding the money 
in his hand) whether he ought to spend money, so 
hardly earned, for the purpose he designed, which 
might certainly be put to so much better use. 


SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT’S TAIL. 147 

Long and severe was the struggle between the 
innate love of mischief, reluctance to be tamely 
defied, and his keen sense of right. 

Morton possessed a noble nature of his ownj 
and nothing but his almost uncontrollable love of 
fun could have induced him to make so much sport 
of Trafton. He could not help feeling it was 
rather small business, but here was fair game : a 
fellow able to take care of himself had defied him 
to do his worst. But he did not like the mode of 
doing it. 

Suppose,’^ he refiected, he should find out 
what I used to stupefy him ; should get into the 
habit of using it, and be ruined, as I have heard 
my uncle tell of lots of persons being. Shall I, or 
shall I not ? Ill cast lots.’^ He took a stick. If 
that stick falls towards the window twice out of 
three times, 111 do it ; if it falls towards the bed, 
111 give it up.” He set the stick up ; it fell 
towards the bed: he set it up again; the same 
result. 0, bother ! what a stick that is ! ” and he 
flung it into the fireplace. “ There’s a copper ; 111 
try that twice ; if it comes heads. 111 do it ; tails, 
111 give it up.” He flung the copper in the air ; 
it came head up : again ; it came tail. 0, sugar ! 
I’m just where I was before.” He now determined 
to waive the question of right altogether, and be 
governed by that of expediency. “I need this 
money to buy a pair of shoes ; guess I can get 
along without shoes ; ought to pay something for 


148 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


board ; can work some more for Mr. Beals ; the 
class are going to give some books to the Peucin- 
ian Library, I must do my part ; but the president 
and profs will want more work done when it comes 
harvest-time, and I can get a school next winter. 
I guess I can afford it ; but if I get safe through 
this, I won’t cut up any more shines. I wouldn’t 
do this to Lowell, Ferguson, Rich, or anybody that 
was studious, would feel bad to be absent from 
recitations, and wanted to make the most of them- 
selves ; but as for Ed, he don’t care whether he 
has any rank, makes anything or not ; then he 
dared me, or as good as that. I’ll do it ! I’ll let 
him know he has trod on the wrong cat’s tail this 
time.” 

Tired with a hard day’s work, he went to bed 
and slept, till waked by Richardson’s getting into 
bed and putting his cold feet on him. 

0, Rich, what do you put your cold feet on me 
for ? ” 

“ Because I want to warm ’em.” 

They’re as cold as ice ! What makes ’em ? ” 

“ Had to wade ashore.” 

“ Had a good time ? ” 

Great ; wish you’d been there.” 

“ Ye-e-e-s.” 

“What do you suppose I did, Mort?” asked 
Rich, when they woke the next morning. 

“ I don’t know ; what ? ” 

“ I went up hand over hand on the shroud, al 


SAVAGE TREADS ON THE WRONG CAT’S TAIL. 149 


most to the mast-head ; not one of the others could 
go up ten feet ; and I heard a man that goes in 
the sloop say, ‘ That’s a withy boy.’ Only think, 
Mort, saying that of me, who used to be such a 
white-livered thing ! But there’s one thing 1 want 
to do.” 

What is that ? ” 

“ Learn to swim. Savage and Ferguson jumped 
off the wharf in Portland, and swam all round, and 
I stood looking like a fool.” 

I’ll teach you down to Maquoit, on the marsh, 
where the water is warm as milk : and we can stay 
in as long as we like — two hours, if we want to.” 


150 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

TRANSMIGRATION. 

M orton now began to think seriously of put- 
ting his designs into execution, as he 
thought sufficient time had elapsed, since the con- 
versation in their room, for the remarks then made 
by Savage to be forgotten. 

It was necessary that he should have some place 
where he could make a fire and be secure from 
observation. At first he thought of going into a 
retired spot in the woods ; but to this were two 
strong objections : Perk and Hathaway were for- 
ever strolling in the woods, without the least re- 
gard to study hours, and might surprise him. 
Again, the least draught of air might cause an 
explosion ; and Morton, by repeated casualties at 
home, had learned caution. There was an old 
shanty on the plains, with a chimney, used in the 
autumn by charcoal-burners ; but Perk and Hath- 
away knew of that. He at length bethought him- 
self of a condemned fisherman that lay at Maquoit. 
He knew there was a good fireplace in her cuddy, 
and an old tea-kettle, for he and Richardson once 
took refuge there in a shower. 


thansmighatton. 


151 


This was altogether too far for Perk and Hatha- 
way to go, except on some extra occasion, when 
the whole fraternity went. Here, on Saturday 
afternoon, when the others supposed him at work, 
he went. Heating some water in th.e old kettle, 
he cleaned the flask, and stripped the covering 
from it, that he might witness the operation, 
poured in some .of the acid, and put in portions 
of the silver, which he had cut into small pieces ; 
and putting the neck of the flask in a split stick, 
placed it on the hot ashes. In a few moments 
there was a furious commotion, and fumes of red 
vapor poured from the mouth of the flask. When 
Morton ascertained, by gently shaking it, that the 
silver was all consumed, he took it from the fire, 
and the ebullition subsided. He now filtered the 
contents by pouring it through a piece of cloth 
tied over the mouth of the vessel, repeating the 
operation till he had disposed of the three dollars 
so hardly earned. 

“ ^ A fool and his money are soon parted.’ I 
have heard my uncle say that ‘ sailors earn their 
money like horses, and spend it like asses ; ’ guess 
I’m a sailor,” said Morton, experiencing a momen- 
tary regret. 

There remained in the vessel a greenish liquor, 
and on the filter a mass of white crystals ; these, 
after cleansing, he put into a bottle, adding ammo- 
nia and water. In a few moments the whole be- 
came of a dark-brown color ; and putting it into 


152 THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 

a vial, he corked it carefully, and tied a bladder 
over the cork. On arriving home, he hid it in the 
president’s haymow. 

Morton’s preparations were now all made ; and 
the opportunity for which he had waited was 
afforded by Lowell and Ferguson, who, in order 
to requite the hospitality shown them by Hill and 
the others on the night of their return, made an 
entertainment in their room, to which all in the 
building were invited. 

Boys, of course, carry to college the habits and 
sentiments in which they have been educated at 
home. There was no one of all the boys in the 
building but had been accustomed to the use of 
wine and all other liquors at their homes, seen it 
used by their parents, produced on all occasions, 
and whenever strangers were entertained. Some 
of them had been told that boys ought to partake 
of it but seldom; and all, both by precept and 
example, that to use it in moderation was proper 
and right. Morton had been more strictly edu- 
cated than any boy of the set. But what exam- 
ples had he witnessed in this respect ? Precisely 
such as were placed before youth all over the land. 
In the dining-room at home stood a large mahog- 
any sideboard, in a deep drawer of which were 
numerous partings filled with square bottles con- 
taining various liquors ; in another department 
were large glass decanters, with silver-washed 
labels, hung by a little chain around their necks, 


TRANSMIGRATION. 


153 


on which were inscribed Madeira, Malaga, Holland 
Gin, Santa Cruz, and Old Jamaica. Whenever 
company was present, he had been accustomed to 
see these placed upon the table. At Thanksgiving 
(Christmas was of no account then, except to Epis- 
copalians) and at New Year’s he had been in the 
habit of taking wine with his parents, though not 
allowed the use of stronger liquors ; those were 
for older people. 

There were certain elderly ministers in the 
vicinity who frequently exchanged with his father. 
Whenever they came in cold weather, his mother 
would put some Holland gin in a tumbler, with 
loaf sugar, and set it down on the hearth to warm 
for them, before they went into the pulpit, and 
again after they came out. 

As for Savage, he had been used to see his 
father get to bed with difficulty after a jolly wel- 
come home to sea captains who had made a profit- 
able voyage. 

Would it have been any marvel (considering 
how strong are the inclination and ambition in 
boys to ape the manners of men, with what anxiety 
the greater portion of them scrutinize their upper 
lip to note any incipient down, and the nature of 
this habit of drinking to grow by culture), that, 
when thrown together, away from the restraints 
of home, in a great measure masters of their own 
actions, they had all become drunkards? Never- 
theless, it was not thus with these boys, owing, 


154 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


in a great measure, to Morton, whom they all 
liked. Neither Morton nor Richardson had formed 
any inclination for liquor. They both wanted 
a quiet room; both disliked any approach to 
vulgarity when they met together to have a 
good time. Morton, who was not able to bear the 
expense of providing liquors, would not drink at 
Richardson’s, and easily prevailed on him (who 
believed Mort was about right in every respect) 
to banish it from his room, substituting tea, coffee, 
and lemonade ; only intending, according to uni- 
versal custom, to set a table, have wine, and 
entertain their friends and relatives, when they 
graduated. The others (with the exception of 
Hill and Savage) followed their example to a great 
extent, though they kept sideboards, stocked with 
wines, in their rooms, but partook sparingly, and 
were never drunk. 

Savage and Hill would have it whenever there 
was any festive gathering. Savage loved it, and 
was sometimes intoxicated ; would drink it when 
alone ; and the habit was evidently enslaving both 
him and Hill ; one reason of which was, that while 
the others found vent for their surplus energy and 
exuberance of spirits in work, rides on horseback, 
sailing, and out-of-door sports, in which there was 
no reaction, they sought for their relaxation in- 
doors in questionable pleasures. 

As it was rather an extra occasion, Lowell and 
Ferguson provided wine, among other articles of 


TRANSMIGRATION. 


155 


good cheer. They ate and drank, told stories, 
sung college ditties, and talked over their Fourth 
of July excursion. Morton embraced the oppor- 
tunity, when all were busily engaged in eating, to 
mix opium with the tobacco in a pipe which he 
took care should be used by Savage. It was not 
long, after they began to smoke and talk, before 
Savage (who was naturally reserved) became grad- 
ually very loquacious, expressed sentiments quite 
foreign to his usual mode of thought, and clothed 
in language which, though ornate, and at times 
extravagant, was really beautiful. His compan- 
ions listened with astonishment; but all, except 
Morton (who was intently watching him, with 
mingled curiosity and apprehension), imputed it 
to the wine, of which he had partaken very freely. 
He repeated scraps of poetry, quoted from authors 
no one supposed he could ever have read, and, 
although there was no more music in him than in 
a college horn, attempted to sing, affording abun- 
dance of amusement. As the influence of the 
opiate and that of the wine increased, he seemed 
transformed, both in mind and body ; his cheeks 
flushed, his eyes danced with a joyous light, that 
seemed quite different from that of intoxication ; 
and his ideas were expressed with singular vi- 
vacity. He now introduced the subject of trans- 
migration ; informed his wondering auditors that 
he was four thousand years old, had tenanted vari- 
ous forms of plants, and bodies both of animals 


156 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


and men, previous to assuming his present form ; 
that he had been an oak, a bamboo, and a banian 
tree, — in the latter form smeared with red paint, 
and worshipped in Bengal, — and had experienced 
the greatest contrasts in condition ; that his first 
migration from a tree was to a Hottentot; that 
after being fifty years in that form, he killed his 
aged mother, and became a rat ; was killed while 
eating the nose off a dead body, and sentenced to 
become a louse ; but, being too large to enter so 
small a body, passed into a lion ; from a lion he 
migrated to a brindled calf, with a star in his fore- 
head ; for his industry and docility in this situa- 
tion, he became the ass upon which the Saviour 
rode into Jerusalem ; the ass was killed and eaten 
in the siege of Jerusalem, even to the hoofs, hide, 
and the marrow sucked from the bones by starv- 
ing wretches. 

“ How can that be,” said Hill, “ when the feet 
of that ass are shown at the various Catholic 
churches in Europe ? ” 

If all the feet shown as belonging to that an- 
imal had really been his,” said Hathaway, he 
must have had as many as a centipede. But what 
did you become next ? ” 

I passed through various forms of plants and 
animals, till I became a snapping-turtle, and bit 
Morton’s toe half off when he went in swimming 
Sabbath morning, while his father had gone to 
exchange ; for which virtuous action I became Ed 
Savage, an’ it please you.” 


TRANSMIGRATION. 


157 


“ You,” said Richardson, “ are about the age of 
Morton ; what became of the soul of the Ed Sav- 
age you must have displaced ? ” 

He was a bad boy, disobedient, thievish, un- 
grateful ; his father was about to send him to sea ; 
he went into the snapping-turtle ; and I advised 
Morton, as a friend, to keep out of that pond.” 

“ Didn’t his parents note the difference ? ” asked 
Ferguson. 

“ Yes ; my new mother said to my father, ^ Hus- 
band, what a good boy Edward has got to be ! ’ and 
he replied, ^ It was the sound whipping I gave him 
last Thursday, wife ; that was the means of it.’ 
^ I am so glad ! ’ said my mother ; ^ now we shall 
not be obliged to send the poor boy to sea.’ You 
don’t know, boys, how nice it seemed to receive 
the kiss of a mother, walk in the green fields amid 
the perfume of flowers, and drink from the crystal 
spring, after being more than a hundred years a 
snapping-turtle, and burrowing in the black mud 
with snakes and bullfrogs.” 


158 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XV. 


GETS HIS PAY AS HE GOES ALONG. 

HILE Savage was pouring forth this inco- 



vv herent rhapsody, with scarcely the cessa- 
tion of a moment, Morton was undergoing a mer- 
ited chastisement for his love of mischief. His 
uncle had given him accurate information in re- 
spect to the quantity of drug to be administered, 
and its effects as an opiate, but none whatever in 
relation to its tremendous power as a stimulant 
to the brain previously. Therefore while the 
others considered it a peculiar phase of intoxica- 
tion, and enjoyed it as most rare sport, Morton, 
terribly frightened, knew better, and thought he 
was going mad ; tears came to his eyes, and he 
was a prey to the most agonizing thoughts. The 
others, meanwhile, continued to ply him with ques- 
tions, in order to draw him out. 

« Why,’’ asked Traffcon, “ have not any of the 
rest of us been subject to these migrations ? ” 

So you have, only it has not been permitted 
you to know it.” 


“ What have I been? ” 



f/uiUUJIft' 

Ul/Jlliwllj 








'^A.f • LL 












Morton’s Experiment. Page 159. 










GETS HIS PAY AS HE GOES ALONG. 


159 


“ Your soul is very small, an inconsiderable 
thing ; you were first a cockroach, then a sow-bug, 
then an adder, from thence passed to a negro.’^ 

“A nigger !” screamed Trafton, greatly enraged; 
call me a nigger ? Repeat it if you dare I 
“ Away, slight man.” 

Trafton flung a cup of coffee at him. 

“ Come one, come all ; this rock shall fly 
From its firm base as soon as I ! ” 

cried Savage, in a lofty tone, setting his back 
against the wall of the room, and putting himself 
in a posture of defence. 

Quiet was at length restored by the interfer- 
ence of Hill and Perkins. 

What an affecting sight it is, boys,” said 
Savage, “to see poor Jim so under the influence 
of liquor, and forming habits that will blight all 
his prospects in life, and break the hearts of his 
parents ! If weeping would do any good, 1 could 
weep.” 

His attention being now directed to Trafton, he 
abandoned the region of metaphysics, and began 
to relate to Lowell and Ferguson the details of his 
sickness, and in a manner which indeed relieved 
the mind of Morton in respect to his sanity, but, 
on the other hand, kept him and the rest on tenter- 
hooks during the remainder of the evening. A 
score of times he came within a haiPs breadth of 
ripping up, from the bottom, the whole affair of 


160 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


the looking-glass, that had passed off so nicely, 
leaving James in the firm persuasion that for the 
time he had been black, and restored by the skill 
of the doctor and a comfrey poultice ; and it was 
only by their joint efforts in dexterously diverting 
conversation, and the superlative stupidity of 
Trafton, that he was not let into the secret at once. 

“ I say, Mort ! ’’ cried Savage, “ what are you 
going to do with that production of youthful ge- 
nius ? Ain’t you going to have it framed ? It 
ought to be set in diamonds, and handed down, to 
keep your memory green in the minds of pos- 
terity.” 

Notwithstanding Morton looked daggers at him, 
put his finger on his own lips, and resorted to 
every method to make him take the hint and hold 
his tongue, he still persisted. He was about to 
say, “ You know what I mean, Mort — that portrait 
of Jim Trafton,” when Morton, in stern tones, ex- 
claimed, “ No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher ! ” 

This created a universal roar, in which the voice 
of Savage was drowned ; and he went ojff to some- 
thing else. 

At length Savage began to subside, and yawn. 
Morton, who was keenly watching him, said, “ It 
is time for me to go ; the lesson is hard, and 1 must 
be up in season.” And the assembly broke up. 

Perkins and Hathaway were boys of excellent 
abilities, especially Perkins ; they were splendidly 
fitted, but had fallen into indolent habits, though 


GETS HIS PAY AS HE GOES ALONG. 


161 


they liked to read, and were fond of writing and 
declamation. 

Savage was a sharp, shrewd fellow, of excellent 
abilities and disposition, but without the least in- 
clination to study, or interest in it; indeed, he 
never wanted to enter college, but had been sent 
there by his father, a wealthy ship-owner, who, 
like Squire Trafton, wanted a professional man in 
his family. 

After Richardson was in bed, Mort took from his 
wood closet the bottle containing the brown liquid, 
— which, on being exposed to the oxygen of the 
air, became black, — enveloped in many folds of 
flannel. This was in order to keep it warm, for he 
had already brought it to a blood heat, by burying 
it in hot horse manure, at the president’s stable, 
fearing lest the chill of a cold liquid might arouse 
his victim. He also had a large and small paint 
brush, that had never been used. Blowing out 
the light, he got into bed, taking the bottle with 
him to keep it warm, and gave Richardson a hearty 
kick to let him know he was there. 

Quit kicking me, Mort ; it hurts, I can tell you.” 

When Richardson was fast asleep, Morton 
crawled from the bed, and slinging a lantern to his 
neck, took his materials, and removing the board 
over the closet, entered the room of Savage, and 
soon ascertained that he was in asleep so profound 
that he could be handled without the least danger 
of waking him. 

11 


162 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


My uncle knows a thing or two ; and he pro- 
ceeded very carefully to strip off the bed-clothes, 
and move him to the edge of the bed. He then 
took a clean horse-blanket, which he had brought 
from the president’s stable, and spread it over the 
bed ; reduced Savage to the primitive state, placed 
him on the blanket, and proceeded with the brush 
to apply the liquid, using the larger brush for the 
body, and the smaller for the extremities — even 
regarding the eyelids, and the toe and finger nails. 
He was enabled to perform the operation more 
rapidly and skilfully, as he had been long ac- 
customed to the use of the brush. After painting 
the face and hands, he diluted the liquid, and 
painted the rest of the body. It dried almost as 
fast as applied ; and, in a short time after com- 
pleting the operation, he was enabled to restore 
everything to its original state. Towards the 
latter part of the process. Savage seemed to be 
sensible of the cold, and made motions with his 
arms as though to draw the clothes over him, but 
manifested no further consciousness, nor once 
opened his eyes. 

“ According to my uncle’s statement,” said Mor- 
ton to himself, “ he’ll not wake up for four or five 
hours yet.” He now beat up the pillow, placed 
his head in a higher position, smoothed up the bed- 
clothes, and taking comb and brush, arranged the 
hair of the sleeper, and, sitting down, sketched the 
bed and its occupant, tlius addressing the uncon- 
scious subject of his pencil : — 


GETS HIS PAY AS HE GOES ALONG. 1G3 

You are a splendid negro, Edward ; with the 
most regular features, and the finest cranial de- 
velopments of any black I ever saw. You per- 
ceive what youVe come to in consequence of chal- 
lenging Henry Morton, and biting his great toe 
half off when you were a snapping-turtle ; and 
it’s something that won’t yield to Dr. L. and a 
poultice.” 

Carefully collecting his materials, he returned 
to his own room. His first care was to put every 
article he had used beyond the reach of the strict- 
est scrutiny. Late as it was, he returned the 
president’s blanket to the stable. “ I have stained 
it,” he said ; “ but I know what will discharge the 
color.” The bottle of liquid and the paintbrushes 
he threw into an old well, in which there was 
not less than six feet of water. These things 
done, he crept carefully into bed, without dis- 
turbing Richardson. 

“ I wish I had not done it,” said he, as he lay 
down. “ This is the first thing I ever did in my 
life that I should be ashamed to have my mother 
know. Father likes fun as well as I do, but he 
wouldn’t like my giving him that drug. What if 
he did dare me ! what need I care for him ! I 
won’t be dared into doing anything again, if 1 
can help it ” — a reservation which, considering 
Morton’s temperament and circumstances, it was 
very prudent to make. 


164 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XYI. 

WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK. 

T he next morning after the social gathering we 
have described, neither Perkins, Hill, Hath- 
away, nor Savage was at prayers or recitation ; 
but the occurrence was too common to elicit 
remark. 

Morton (who defrayed in part the expenses of 
his board by cutting in the forest, and for the fire- 
wood consumed by his landlord, which farmer 
Beals hauled) boarded with Richardson, Pike, and 
some others, at a distance from the college, while 
the rest took their meals together, and much 
nearer. 

The absentees did not make their appearance at 
breakfast, which was also nothing uncommon. 

> In about an hour after the rest had eaten. Hill, 
Perkins, and Hathaway came along. 

“ Where is Mr. Savage ? ” inquired the land- 
lady. 

“ DonT know ; havenT seen him this morning,’^ 
replied Hill ; guess he’ll be along before we get 
through.” 


WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK. 


165 


He did not get along, and, after waiting a few 
minutes, they returned to their rooms. 

When Savage awoke he was sensible of a dull 
headache and slight nausea. He lay a long time 
in a sort of waking trance, winking, yawning, then 
gazing into infinite space, and dozing again. Con- 
scious of a burning thirst, he at length got up for 
water, when he perceived that his entire body was 
black. Going to the glass, he found that his face 
was of the same hue. In his terror and surprise 
(with his faculties none of the clearest), something 
very much like an oath escaped him. Sitting on 
the edge of the bed, he put both hands to his head, 
and, in a sort of strange bewilderment, strove to 
rally his benumbed faculties, and after a while pro- 
ceeded leisurely to dress himself. 

It may wash off,” he said to himself, and with 
soap and water made the experiment. The pro- 
cess reminded him of his washing Trafton. 

It won’t come ofi* on the cloth ; they’ll poultice 
me.’’ And, struck with the ludicrous manner in 
which justice had overtaken him, he roared aloud. 

I might as well laugh as cry,” he said. “ Trafton 
will have the laugh on his side now.” 

His mirth, however, was of short duration ; 
graver considerations prevailed. He heard the 
doors of the other rooms open and shut, as their 
occupants returned from breakfast, and knew that 
Hathaway or Perk would soon be at his door to 
know what had become of him, whether he was 


166 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


sick, and, anticipating the mortification of dis*. 
covery, gritted his teeth with rage. “ Won’t there 
be a time when it comes out ! Every fellow in 
college, every man, woman, and child in town, will 
be blabbing it; and I shall be a laughing-stock, 
and never hear the last of it. I wish I could skin 
myself.” 

Without the slightest knowledge of chemistry, 
but too shrewd to believe, like Trafton, that it was 
the result of any disease, he knew it was the effect 
of some agent, applied by some one while he was 
asleep ; but who it was, what it was, and how it 
could be done, he — totally ignorant of the effects 
of opium, or that it had been administered to him 
— was sorely puzzled to know. 

In the hope of obtaining some clew to the 
mystery, he began to examine the premises. The 
fastenings of the windows were all in their places, 
and the room was in the second story. The door 
was locked, and the key in the lock. It was im- 
possible that anybody could have put in another 
key. The fireplace was full of pieces of white 
paper. No one could have descended the chimney 
without bringing down with him soot that would 
be visible on the paper. 

His first thought was of Morton. He had not 
forgotten the conversation in Hill’s room ; but how 
could he get in? He must have concealed him- 
self in the room, and be there then. He searched 
the room in vain, examined the bed-clothes and 


WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK. 


167 


his night-clothes, but there was not a stain on 
either. 

“ i’m beat, dead beat ! he exclaimed, at length ; 

it must be the devil ! and he threw himself on 
the bed. The next moment he jumped up, ex- 
claiming, IVe got it ; theyTe all in it, every one 
of them ! I was drunk, and didn’t know what I 
was about. They put this stuff on me, and when 
it was dry put me to bed, and Morton was head 
man ; no one but he could have got it up. I think 
it was real mean in Hathaway, any way.” 

While thus revolving matters in his own mind, 
there was a knock at the door. Savage paid no 
attention to it for some moments, meanwhile 
deliberating as to the course he should pursue. 
The knocking continued. 

If,” he said to himself, I keep still, and they 
are not all concerned in it, they will think I’m sick 
or dead, and break in, to see what is the matter ; 
and if they are, they’ll do it to enjoy the fun.” 

He turned the key. 

“ For Heaven’s sake, Ed, what ails you ? ” cried 
Hathaway. 

“ I rather think you know better than I do,” said 
Savage, sulkily, locking the door after him. 

Know ! How should I know ? I am con- 
founded.” 

“ Your astonishment is well put on.” 

Put on ? What do you mean by that ? ” 

I’ll tell you what I mean, Stillman Hathaway, 


168 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


since you are so dull of apprehension. You and I 
are of the same age, within a few weeks, have 
always played together, been to school together, 
lived in the same street, shared everything in 
common, backed each other up in every scrape we 
got into, even dressed alike, and been just like 
brothers. I think it was so mean and low-lived in 
you to go into a conspiracy with outsiders to serve 
me in such a way as this ! There’s honor. Still 
Hathaway, even among thieves. I used to think, 
when I first read the ^neid about Nisus and 
Euryalus, that was just like me and Still Hathaway ; 
but that dream has faded.” And the tears ran 
down his cheeks. 

“ As God is my judge, Edward, you wrong me. 
1 am not the fellow to do such a thing, and I 
thought you knew me better ; believe me, this is 
all news to me.” 

« Truly, Still?” 

“ Truly, Ed.” 

As Savage looked his friend in the face, and met 
his eye, he felt that he was sincere. 

« Forgive me. Still, if I have hurt your feelings ; 
but my head snaps this morning, and I am half 
crazy. Only look here ! ” He bared his bosom 
and arms to his friend’s inspection. am just 
like this all over.” 

“ It is too bad ; won’t it wash oif? ” 

“ No ; water and soap make no impression on it. 
The thing must have been done when I was drunk, 
in Lowell and Ferguson’s room.” 


WHEN GHEEH MEETS GREEK. 


169 


“ It wasn^t done there. I wasn’t drunk, nor any- 
thing like it. To be sure, when we broke up, you 
were pretty well sprung, but not enough to have 
that done to you. I went up stairs and to your 
room door with you, and you got up stairs well 
enough by taking hold of the rail. Don’t you 
recollect that you fell down trying to knock my 
hat off, and I helped you get up ? ” 

I believe now I do remember something 
about it.” 

I heard you turn the key in the lock as I went 
away.” 

“ How then was it done, and who did it ? ” 
That’s more than I can tell.” 

“ I can think of no one but Mort ; but he 
couldn’t do it ; he couldn’t get in.” 

Another knock at the door. Savage made a 
sign to Hathaway to reply. 

Who’s there ? ” 

Perk.” 

“ Ed’s sick ; won’t have anybody here but me.” 

“ What’s the matter with him ? ” 

Took too much opodeldoc last night.” 

Still, I’ve made up my mind what to do.” 

“ Well, what is it ? ” 

“ I believe it was Mort did this. But whoever 
did it is expecting lots of fun out of it, because he 
thinks I shall have to expose myself by going to 
recitations and meals ; or, if I keep my room, the 
others will break in, and thus make me the* laugh- 


170 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


ing-stock of the whole college and village, till it 
wears off; and how long that will take nobody 
knows, but of course it will wear off. There 
wouldn’t be much fun in it, if it were not known.” 

That’s so, sure.” 

“ I’ll spoil that fun, or my name’s not Ed Savage, 
and some day I’ll be square with him.” 

“ How are you going to do that ? ” 

“ I can do it with your help.” 

“ I’ll do anything you say.” 

I’m going to be sick to-day. I want you to 
stay here, get my food, and keep everybody out ; 
and, when you go to recitation, lock me in, and 
put the key in your pocket.” 

“ I’ll do it.” 

I want you to get me a pack and fill it with 
provisions ; to-night, as soon as it is dark, I start 
for home. I will travel nights, and lie by in the 
woods in the daytime, and stay there till I get rid 
of this. You can give out that I have gone home 
sick.” 

I know where I can get a pack. I am ac- 
quainted with a man who very often goes into the 
woods to look out timber, and has a pack, snow- 
shoes, and everything to camp out with.” 

You see. Still, if I do this, all the good he can 
have of it will be chuckling over it alone ; or, if he 
tells of it, he can’t exhibit me.” 

“ I see ; that will be first rate.” 

“ There’s one thing I’ve made up my mind to ; 


WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK. 


171 


Pve done with liquor of all kinds. I won’t put 
myself in the power of any one again. I’ll be 
master of myself.” 

You can’t carry that out.” 

I will carry it out ; you know I can stick to 
anything, if I have a mind.” 

“ I know you are obstinate enough when you 
get your back up ; but I wouldn’t make any rash 
promises. You feel sore and cross just now, and 
want to punish yourself ; by and by you won’t feel 
so. What would you do if you were in a company 
of gentlermen where they had wine, and all drank ? 
You wouldn’t want to be singular, and refuse.” 

Well, I shall.” 

“ Suppose you have company at home, — your 
father’s friends and yours, — and wine is on the 
table.” 

“ I shall do the same.” 

Suppose a lady asks you to pledge her ? ” 

“ I’ll say I’ve made a vow. The fact is. Still, it’s 
easier for me to abstain altogether. I can’t drink 
moderately, as you and the others do ; and so I’ll 
not drink at all.” 

I’ll bet, the very first time that any of the fel- 
lows have a time, and anything to drink, that 
promise will be among the things that were.” 

“ No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher.” 

“ Time will show.” 

Although at a casual glance it may seem sin- 
gular, it was easier for Savage to keep his vow, in 


172 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


those days of strong drink, than it would be 
for one desirous of reformation to abide by a 
temperance pledge now. When a man signs a 
temperance pledge, he becomes a member of a 
party, to which there is a systematic and bitter 
opposition, and every influence possible is used 
to induce him to break it ; whereas it was often 
the case in those days, after excesses, men made 
a vow to abstain ; and when a person said he had 
made a vow, he was not usually molested. 

“ Another thing I want you to do. Still. While 
I’m gone, I want you to set your wits to work, and 
find out if Mort did this.” 

“ I’ll do the best I can. As soon as you are gone. 
I’ll go up and tell them you are gone home sick ; 
and then I’ll see how Mort looks, hear what he 
says, and notice what inquiries he makes. I don’t 
believe but what I can tell whether he has done it 
or not. And I’ll pump Rich ; he ain’t so deep as 
Mort, is more likely to speak before he thinks. 
I’ll look at Mort’s hands; perhaps there will be 
some black on them.” 

I tell you. Still, go into their room when they 
are out, and mouse round; perhaps you’ll find 
some cloth he’s used, or there’ll be some of the 
stufi* on the floor, or on his shoes, where he dropped 
it by accident, and didn’t see it.” 

“ Yes, or some bottle he’s kept it in.” 

Walk over to Freeport with me, Still.” 

“ I will — just as lief do so as not.” 


WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK. 


173 


During the latter part of this conversation 
Savage .was combing his hair. All at once he 
exclaimed, Look here, Hathaway, see what IVe 
found I Between the teeth of the comb were 
some bristles. 

“ You are going to migrate again, Ed. Well, 
I should rather be a snapping-turtle than a hog.’^ 

“ That is because I got intoxicated. This stuff 
was put on with a brush, and these bristles came 
out of it ; I’ll take care of them.” 

“ Here’s a place the brush didn’t touch,” said 
Hathaway, turning up the rim of his companion’s 
ear; ‘^but I don’t think your plan will work, 
after all.” 

What’s the reason it won’t ? ” 

Because, if I go to the president, tell him 
you’re sick and want permission to go home, he 
will want to know what is the matter ; whether 
you’ve had the doctor ; and if he thinks you ought 
to go home, will want a line from him, or perhaps 
come to see you himself.” 

“ I won’t get excused ; I’ll clear right out.” 

Then you’ll be expelled.” 

I don’t care ; let them expel ; I shall be glad 
of it. I never wanted to come here. I want to 
go into business.” 

“ But your father won’t be glad of it.” 

“ That indeed. Come, Hath, get me some break- 
fast, and then we can talk. I’m half starved.” 

Shall I get some gruel ? ” 


174 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ Grud I No ; get some beefsteak and strong 
coffee.” 

“ Mrs. S. will think you^re very sick.” 

“ Well, then, go to Dow^s tavern and get it ; 
here’s the money.” 

Will you have a glass of wine with it? ” 

“ No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher,” 


▲ FRIEND IN NEED. 


175 


CHAPTER XVII. 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


W HILE the two friends were earnestly dis- 
cussing this matter, Morton, with his ear 
at a knot-hole in the garret floor, was hearing 
every word by means of the open door of the 
wood closet, and even obtained a view of Savage 
as he came to the closet to throw in his slippers. 
Well aware that it would not be long before Hath- 
away would go to see what had occurred to 
Savage, he had kept watch, and the moment he 
heard Savage let him in, crept in his stocking-feet 
to the hole, and listened to the conversation. Just 
as it was concluded, the bell rang for recitation. 
Morton obeyed the call, Hathaway absenting him- 
self from the exercise to procure his companion's 
breakfast. Morton was thus informed that sus- 
picion rested on him, and also of the plan devised 
to deprive him of the sport which he had bestowed 
so much labor and spent so much hard-earned 
money to enjoy. 

His first impulse was to give the rest a hint that 
Savage was not sick, only playing off*, in order to 


176 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


balk sport, when he knew very well they would 
drag out and exhibit him; but he reflected that 
if he was the flrst to know and tell of it, he 
must do it at the risk of detection by fellows as 
sharp as those he had to deal with. Conscience 
and the nobler qualities of his character now 
asserted their claims. 

I have,” he said, already done wrong ; tam- 
pered with a dangerous drug, of the effect of 
which I knew nothing experimentally ; and spent 
money that had much better been appropriated to 
pay my honest debts. I have occasioned him a 
hundred times the mortification it would me to 
have put up with his challenge. I have not in- 
jured him, am well through it, and ought to be 
satisfied. If, to avoid exposure and get ahead of 
me, he has pluck enough to walk seventy-five miles 
in the night, half of it through the woods, he is 
more of a fellow than I ever took him to be. I 
respect him for it ; I’ll neither make, meddle, nor 
listen any more. He is in my power. In two 
minutes I could raise the castle, and have half a 
college over here ; but I won’t ; ” and Morton set 
his teeth hard ; it cost him a severe effort to forego 
the gratification of one of his strongest passions, 
and exclaiming, “ I’ve got my labor for my pains ; 
but it’s good enough for me ; I’ll play no more 
tricks of that nature,” he sat down to his 
lessons with a clearer conscience and lighter 
heart than of late, for he had gained a greater 


A FEIEND IN NEED. 


177 


victory than that over Savage — a victory over 
himself. 

“ Ed,” said Hathaway, musingly, and contem- 
plating him while bolting the enormous breakfast 
(for a sick man) which he had brought, — “ Ed, 
since I went out, IVe been thinking this matter 
over,” 

Well, what about it ? ” 

Don’t you think it would mortify Mort, or who- 
ever did this thing, a great deal more if you could, 
in the course of the day or night, find something 
that would take this stuff off, and go in to prayers 
and recitation to-morrow morning restored to 
your natural color, than it would if you went 
home ? ” 

To be sure it would.” 

Wouldn’t he be as much puzzled to know 
how you got it off as you are to know how he got 
it on ? ” 

« Yes.” 

Then let me get the doctor up here ; I don’t 
believe but he can tell you of something that will 
remove it ; if he can’t, you must go.” 

But won’t he let it out ? ” 

« No ; I’ll risk him.” 

I would be blistered all over with Spanish flies, 
if that would take it off.” 

“ I guess the doctor’ll laugh when I tell him 
there’s another nigger in Badcliffe, no sham this 
time.” 


12 


178 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ It^s worth trying, Hath. Go get him.” 

Don’t you think you were a great fool to dare 
Mort, Ed?” 

“ No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher ; away 
with you, and get him.” 

Hathaway brought the doctor up, after having 
sworn him to secrecy. 

When he saw Savage, he could not forbear 
laughing immoderately. 

You ought to call Trafton,” he said; “he wiU 
know how to sympathize with you.” 

He made himself so exceedingly merry that 
Savage was provoked, and exclaimed, — 

“ I sent for you to relieve, not to ridicule me.” 

“ Zounds ! ” said the doctor ; “ I know of no 
poultice that will remove this. You were ready 
enough to laugh at poor Jim, and scrub his face 
till you started the skin : now those who are fond 
of giving jokes must learn to take them with a 
good grace.” 

“ That was only a reflection in a glass, and was 
soon over; but this is a reality, and will last, 1 
don’t know how long ; if it had been burnt cork, or 
lampblack even, I should have laughed at it as a 
good joke.” 

“Jim thought it was a reality, and thinks so 
still,” said Hathaway. 

“ Didn’t know as it would ever come off, either,” 
said the doctor, who, when able to control him- 
self, began to examine the person of Savage. At 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


179 


length he said, “ This is some mineral dye ; have 
you any article that is stained with it, or that it 
was put on with ? 

“ No,” replied Savage ; ‘‘ all I know about it is, 
that it was put on with a- brush, because I combed 
some bristles out of my hair.” 

The doctor now found some locks of hair on 
the head of Savage that had been colored, and cut 
them off. 

Now, boys,” said he, “ do as I tell you. Do 
you, Hathaway, take these bristles and this hair to 
Professor Cleaveland ; donT go to the laboratory 
and disturb him when about an experiment ; if you 
do, you will catch it ! It was not a freshman did 
that : whoever did that knew something about 
chemistry ; it must have been some senior.” 

It was Morton,” said Hathaway ; “ he is al- 
ways reading that kind of book ; that is, we 
think so.” 

“ But,” said Savage, the professor will tell 
of it.” 

DonT you worry about that.” 

“ He will think it is his duty to tell the faculty.” 

Duty ! He paddles his own canoe. Did you 
ever see him smelling around to find out anything, 
or hear of it, either ? ” 

No, I never did.” 

Well, now, just be ruled by me. Don’t send 
anybody, but go right to him yourself, like a boy 
to his father, as soon as it is dark, and tell him the 


180 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


whole story ; hell like that manly, straightforward 
fashion of doing the thing ; he’ll keep it to himself, 
and will help you.” 

I’m afraid to go, doctor, he looks so stern.” 

That is only outside ; he is one of the kindest 
hearted men that ever lived.” 

If I go to his house, some of the family may 
come to the door, or, at any rate, the servant.” 

I will ask him to meet you at the laboratory 
this evening.” 

“ He never would do that.” 

“ What is the reason he wouldn’t ? You seem 
to take him for a specimen of raw-head-and-bloody- 
bones, whereas he is one of the kindest and most 
obliging of men, if you only approach him at the 
proper time ; why, every old woman and the girls 
in the village run to him to know how to make in- 
delible ink, yeast, and what will take out grease 
and iron mould.” 

I think Morton could give them a receipt for 
ink,” said Savage, looking at his hands. 

The professor may laugh a little,” continued 
the doctor ; “ it would make a dog laugh ; but that 
won’t hurt you.” 

In the latter part of the afternoon, the doctor, 
calling upon the professor, found him at work in 
his garden, and received a cordial welcome, for 
they were fast friends. 

“ Step this way, doctor,” said he, after shaking 
hands ; “ you perceive I have painted this fence 
in alternate lengths, white and black.” 


A f’RIEND IN NEED. 


181 


« Yes, sir.’^ 

“ Just see how differently the sun has operated 
upon different portions of it ; under the black 
paint the wood is rent, and has opened very much ; 
but under the white not a particle — a very good 
illustration of the manner in which a black surface 
absorbs the rays of the sun, and also that it sur- n 
renders its heat in the same proportions; for I 
have noticed that plants seem to grow more during 
the night ; and the thermometer is higher in the 
night near the black surface, while it is parting 
with its heat.’^ 

“ Very evident, sir ; but there^s a black surface 
over to college I wish^ to speak with you about, 
that was parting with its caloric quite rapidly 
when I left, and not in the most choice language.’^ 

“ You speak in riddles, doctor 
“ I will explain myself. Some of the students 
have stained a freshman (by the name of Savage) 
black from head to foot ; it won’t yield to soap and 
water, vinegar, or lemon-juice. The poor fellow 
is keeping his room, and meditates walking home, 
seventy-five miles, in the nights, and concealing 
himself in the daytime. I told him, as he is so 
ashamed to have it known, and wishes to balk the 
infliction, I thought, under the circumstances, you 
would help him.” 

Certainly ; with the greatest pleasure. Is it 
vegetable or mineral ? ” 

Mineral, I think ; or — it would not yield to 
agents I have employed.” 


182 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Probably some of tlie nitrates. Bring him 
over.’^ 

“ There is the trouble ; he is so anxious to con- 
ceal it, that I told him I thought you would (con- 
sidering all things) meet him in the evening at the 
laboratory.” 

So I will ; appoint the hour, but let him be 
punctual. Is there anything I can apply tests to ? ” 

“ Yes, sir, hair.” 

‘‘ Let him bring it.” 

The young man hopes you will be kind enough 
not to mention it.” 

“ A mere chemical experiment, doctor,” replied 
the professor, in tones perfectly understood by the 
physician. 

While they were taking leave, a lady entered 
the yard, and, seeing the professor, made her way 
to the garden. 

Good afternoon, Miss Dunning; you have come 
in excellent time, as I have some flowers I wish to 
present you, and some roots, if you would like 
them.” 

I am very much obliged to you. Professor 
Cleaveland ; 1 hope you will excuse me for trou- 
bling you with my domestic affairs, but I am 
greatly annoyed with a crust that collects on the 
inside of my tea-kettle. I’m afraid there is some- 
thing unwholesome in the water; I suppose it 
must come out of the water.” 

To be sure it does ; it is a deposit from it — 


A FRIEND IN NEED. 


183 


iron, or carbonate of lime. I think, from what 1 
recollect of your well-water, when Professor N. 
and I boarded at your house, it was iron ; but if 
you will walk over to Massachusetts Hall with me, 
I will show you some paintings, and give you two 
substances which will unite with and dissolve the 
deposit in either case ; so, if one don’t effect it, 
try the other. Perhaps the doctor will go over 
with us.” 

I thank you. Professor Cleaveland ; I have a 
patient to visit.” 

The patient, however, whom the doctor visited, 
was Savage, in order to advise him of the fact and 
time of the interview ; and as he took care to call 
during the hour for recitation, none but Savage 
and Hathaway were aware of his presence in the 
building. 


184 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XYIII. 

SILENT INFLUENCE OP A GREAT EXAMPLE. 

P ROFESSOR CLEAYELAND, to whom refer- 
ence has been made, the distinguished profess- 
or of chemistry, mineralogy, and natural philoso- 
phy, in the college, was familiarly known among 
the students as Old Cleave,^’ by which term, how- 
ever, no more disrespect was implied than when 
President Lincoln is spoken of as “ Uncle Abra- 
ham.’^ It was rather an expression of affection, 
since, from senior to freshmen, all believed in, 
loved, and were proud of the reputation of the 
scholarly, kind-hearted, democratic, and, at times, 
compassionate professor, who, if he got a good 
chance, when lecturing on hydraulics, was sure to 
souse those on the front seats, to send a stream 
down the throat of some one who chanced to have 
his mouth open, or into his eyes if he wore the 
appearance of having been out late the night be- 
fore. The town^s people, who, in every domes- 
tic or local exigency, availed themselves of his 
knmvledge, were equally attached to the man, who, 
while his fame had crossed the Atlantic, was cap 


SILENT INFLUENCE OP A GREAT EXAMPLE. 185 


tain of the engine company, held the hose at 
every fire, and magnified his oflSce. 

The good man had many odd ways and salient 
points ; that was the reason he was so much be- 
loved ; there was no lack of projections to which 
affection might cling, and around which associa- 
tions clustered. 

There is nothing of the same weight harder to 
lift than a wet cannon ball; and it is quite as 
difficult for boys to like those who are so everlast- 
ingly proper; they prefer a little variety, even 
though it come in a rough shape. 

Although the professor would work for weeks 
amid the most deadly poisons and explosive gases, 
he cherished a mortal dread of lightning or a 
thunder-shower ; and the prospect of one near the 
hour of recitation always signified an adjournment. 
The students said it was because he knew so much 
about it ; some few, indeed, cherished grave doubts 
as to his getting into the middle of a feather bed, 
or a hogshead of water up to his chin, for fear of 
the lightning ; but they were benighted freshmen, 
and what could you expect ? 

It was with great reluctance he went abroad in 
the evening, in consequence of his dread of dogs, 
for he would take to flight before a poodle. There 
seems to be little doubt of the tradition, that upon 
one occasion, while escorting two young ladies, he 
espied a dog in the distance, and leaving them to 
the protection of a kind Providence (in which he 


186 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


cherished the most implicit confidence), took to his 
heels. 

He was naturally choleric, and terrible when 
roused ; but his anger expired with the occasion 
that called it forth, leaving no sediment. 

No student was allowed to say unprepared at 
his recitation ; none cared to more than once. 
One morning, in reply to a question, Hathaway, as 
he had been accustomed to do, said, “ Unprepared, 
sir.’’ Instant as the lightning’s flash, Old Cleave’s 
eyes turned as green as an enraged tiger’s ; his 
stern, massive features flushed ; he exclaimed, in 
tones that made the whole class tremble, and al- 
most annihilated the delinquent, What’s that you 
say?” 

It was the first and last time that Hathaway or 
any member of that class said unprepared to him. 

It was very much the same in respect to tardi- 
ness. Was a student late, the moment the door 
opened he stopped short; there was an awful 
pause ; fixing his eyes on the individual, he con- 
tinued to look at him till he had taken his seat, 
and for some moments after, causing that unhappy 
person to feel as small as can well be imagined. 
On the other hand, he was perfectly fair ; what he 
meant he said, and what he said he meant. 

If a student was deficient in ability, but indus- 
trious, he never bore down on him, or endeavored 
to be witty at his expense, or was impatient with 
him, as was customary with some. If he reproved 


SILENT INFLUENCE OF A GREAT EXAMPLE. 187 


you sharply to-day, he liked you none the less to- 
morrow. There was a manliness in him that boys 
do love ; he always had conscience on his side. 
If he exacted industry and punctuality, he was a 
shining example of both, and all felt that his re- 
proof was for failure in what he considered of the' 
greatest importance. 

Fulminating silver would not explode with 
greater suddenness and force beneath the blow of 
a hammer, than would the professor if disturbed in 
his laboratory. 

We cherish a most vivid recollection of going 
to the door of Massachusetts Hall (during an in- 
terregnum, and while he Avas president joro iem.) to 
obtain leave to go sailing ; in response to a timid 
knock, the door opened Avith a jerk, and he opened 
upon us with round shot, grape, and canister. The 
interview Avas not devoid of its peculiar benefits 
The next time we went without asking, giving as 
an excuse, after returning that we did not Avish 
to disturb him, and it Avas all right. 

It Avas gay times while Old Cleave was president, 
but, like all blessings of this AA^orld, of brief dura- 
tion ; he Avouldn’t be bothered Avith it, and prob- 
ably it Avas found that he was ill adapted to the 
position. 

To those never under his instruction it may ap- 
pear strange, and even inconsistent, that one so 
exacting, and at times passionate, should be popu- 
lar. It should, however, be remembered that 


188 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


these instances were occasional, and called out by 
circumstances acting upon a peculiar tempera- 
ment ; but meet him in the street, visit him at his 
house when disengaged or when at work in his 
garden, and he was cordial, kind as a parent, full 
of humor and information. 

There was still another cause for the great 
popularity of the professor, not apparent to an out- 
side inspection. Every one is familiar with the 
power of first impressions, either for or against, 
and how difficult it is to divest ourselves of pre- 
judices once acquired. 

Although it was not till the latter part of the 
college course that they came under his instruc- 
tion, Old Cleave won the hearts of the boys at the 
outset by his efforts to get them safely through 
the iron gate of the preliminary examination. In 
those days candidates for admission were ex- 
amined in geography. It was quite ludicrous to 
see that really great man sit to ask simple ques- 
tions in geography; but so it was. I will illus- 
trate my meaning by an incident. 

Richardson, as you are aware, was thoroughly 
fitted, but was very diffident. He had grown up 
at home, never been thrown among boys, extreme- 
ly sensitive, and already pretty thoroughly fright- 
ened by all that he had passed through. His 
agitation was not a little increased by the stern 
outside and off-hand manners of the professor into 
whose hands he had now fallen. Moreover, he had 


SILENT INFLUENCE OF A GREAT EXAMPLE. 189 


a slight impediment in his speech, which, how- 
ever, did not interfere with articulation, unless he 
was agitated, when it was very difficult for him to 
utter a word. 

“ Richardson,’^ said the professor, “ what is the 
capital of the United States? ” 

Richardson’s lips moved, his eyes seemed start- 
ing from their sockets, but never a word could he 
utter. 

As the professor looked upon the face of the 
beautiful boy, in which there was a world of intel- 
ligence, he perceived the difficulty. 

“ Wash, Wash,” whispered Cleave. 

“ Washington ! ” burst from the lips of Richard- 
son, like a round shot from a gun. 

“ What is the capital of Canada ? ” 

Bothered again. 

Que, Que,” whispered Cleave. 

Quebec,” replied Rich. 

The boy, now encouraged by the consciousness 
that he was in the presence of a friend, answered 
the remaining questions promptly. Do you think 
Rich ever forgot that ? 

“ What a good man he is ! I shall love him as 
long as I live,” he said to Morton, as they stood 
together between two small maple trees (about 
two inches in diameter — they are larger now), 
before the door of Massachusetts Hall, waiting to 
hear their doom. 

Although ready to tear any one to pieces who 


190 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


said unprepared/’ or was tardy, lie would offset it 
by helping them along when he saw they were in 
difficulty. He would put leading questions — 
questions that could be answered by yes or no ; 
with infinite tact contrive to inform them where 
yes and no came in. Thus, before the week was 
out, the dullest man in the class understood that it 
was infinitely safer, even if unprepared, to get up 
than acknowledge ignorance. It was always safe 
to put a good face, on the matter, get up, throw 
yourself on the niercy of Old Cleave, and do the 
best you could ; but woe betide the delinquent who 
was late, or said unprepared.” 

Then there was such a magnetic influence 
emanating from him that it was impossible to re- 
main unafiected. He could make the most abstruse 
subject intensely interesting to a boy of seventeen. 
There was a freshness about it; he brought it 
home, made it live, connected it with actual life ; 
made one feel here is something which has to do 
with the comforts, luxuries, and progress of the 
race ; with railroads, steamboats, crops, and the 
bread and butter of the whole community ; with 
all that is beautiful, as well as useful and neces- 
sary ; which makes a rifle superior to a bow and 
arrow, a ship to an Indian canoe. 

There was another reason tnore potent, with a 
certain portion of the students, perhaps, than any 
or all of the others. He minded his own business. 
He was like a certain minister, settled over a very 


SILENT INFLUENCE OF A GREAT EXAMPLE. 191 


difficult parish, from whose pulpit incumbent after 
incumbent had been dismissed, and in respect to 
whom one of his parishioners said, “ We have got 
a first-rate minister this time ; he don’t preach re* 
ligion or politics, but minds his own business.” 

Was a student punctual at his recitations, and 
attentive to his studies, he might do what he 
pleased outside ; break all the windows in a broad- 
side of a college, roll stones and logs of wood 
down stairs, build a bonfire as high as the church 
steeple, fling the bell into the Androscoggin, or 
hang the village parson in effigy on the hay-scales, 
for all he cared. He thought a great deal more of 
a rare specimen, a clear day, with no white float- 
ing clouds to interfere with his lecture on light, or 
of the laws of crystallization. 

It was the firm belief of the students that he had 
nothing to do with discipline, never went to a 
government meeting, and that, if the faculty were 
determined he should at least be present, they were 
obliged to meet at his house. Thus the entire 
odium of investigation and punishment was by 
them laid upon others, and Old Cleave’s hands were 
pure from the blood of all men. 

There is no superstition but has a grain of truth 
as its basis ; it was so in this case. The professor 
was in favor of mild measures, had no time for in- 
vestigation outside of his own department, and 
wouldn’t do it. His fear of dogs, and reluctance 
to be out in the evening, kept him from bonfires, 


192 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


and caused the meetings of the faculty to be held 
often at his house. 

As years rolled on, he became more absorbed in 
the duties of his department. When he was first 
connected with college he used to attend prayers 
and perform the service, but in later years was not 
seen there. But even this duty he discharged after 
his own peculiar fashion. When commencing he 
would lift up his spectacles with one hand, the 
prayer culminating when they reached the top of 
his head, and concluding as they once more rested 
in the usual place upon his nose. 

As he considered that his time contributed more 
to the interests of the college and advancement of 
science when spent in the laboratory, or lecturing, 
than in detecting ofienders, he kept away from 
government meetings whenever he could ; and, as 
the students were never brought in contact with 
him in the way of investigation, and he was not 
present at the examination of offenders, they had 
some grounds for their belief. 

Thus they laughed at his jokes, perennial or 
otherwise (for they were not all perennial), and 
declared, by bread and salt, he was a bully old 
fellow. The fast fellows drank success and long 
life to him, and, had he broken half their heads 
in a passion, would have forgiven him the next 
moment. 

One pleasant summer afternoon Perkins was sit- 
ting on the edge of Maquoit Wharf, fishing, and 


SILENT INFLUENCE OF A GREAT EXAMPLE. 193 


meditating upon the vanity of all sublunary things, 
when he espied the professor, with his wife, ap- 
proaching. It was study hours; Perk ought to 
have been in his room getting his lesson. He told 
Morton, afterwards, that he was just about to leave 
his line, jump overboard, and hide under the cob- 
work of the wharf ; but he reflected that it was Old 
Cleave, and resolved to stand his ground. That 
he was further inclined to this course, not merely 
from knowledge of the college sentiment in regard 
to the professor, but because he thought it was not 
at all probable that he would recognize him, as 
they had not met since the preliminary examina- 
tion, nearly a year before. He therefore, as he 
heard the approaching footsteps of the professor, 
pulled his hat down on his face, and bent over his 
line, completely absorbed. By and by a heavy 
hand was placed on his shoulder. 

“ Good afternoon, Perkins.’^ 

Good afternoon, sir.^’ 

“ What are you fishing for ? ” 

Eels, sir.^^ 

“ And what have you to catch them with ? ” 

“ A hook and clam bait.” 

“ That's not the way to catch eels ; you ought to 
have a bob.” 

What is a bob, sir ? ” 

“ Worms sewed together.” 

“ I should think the eels would get off whil6 you 
were pulling them up.” 

13 


194 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ Not if you pull up lively ; the teeth of an eel 
are very fine, and like card teeth ; the thread gets 
tangled in them, and holds. Run up to Mrs. Star- 
bird’s, get a needle and thread and some worms, 
and 1 will make one for you.” 

These being procured, the professor made the 
bob by sewing them together in a bunch, and 
fastened them to the line. 

Now let me try my luck. I caught many an 
eel, when I was a boy, with a bob, and speared 
many a one in the evening by torchlight.” 

In a short time he pulled up three, and had a 
fourth on the line ; but looking at his watch, and 
finding the time had arrived to return, his habit of 
unvarying punctuality prevailed. He left the eel 
wriggling on the bob, and abruptly departed. 

Those who have enjoyed a large experience of 
men and things are versed in those subtle in- 
fluences that operate upon mind, and are well 
aware of the effect sometimes produced by a few 
words, or even a single act, operating in connec- 
tion with peculiar states of feeling. A single act, 
or an expression of sympathy at a critical moment, 
has encouraged many a fainting one to struggle 
with adversity, or make head against evil influences, 
who have afterwards nobly repaid their benefactors, 
and also produced impressions that have roused 
the slothful from indolence and folly to effort and 
usefulness. The idea finds an apt illustration in 
the sacred volume : A word spoken in due sea- 


SILENT INFLUENCE OF A GREAT EXAMPLE. 195 


son, how good is it ! It is like apples of gold in 
pictures of silver.^^ In this instance, however, an 
act which, according to a trite proverb, “ speaks 
louder than words,” produced the impression. 

As Perk landed the eel upon the wharf, he 
looked after the professor, just stepping into his 
chaise, and thus soliloquized: “He enjoyed that 
sport ; wanted ever so much to catch more ; would 
like to fish till dark — I know he would ; yet the 
instant his time is up, he leaves the fish on the 
line, and is off. After all he has done, and on the 
top round of the ladder, wouldn’t stop to haul in 
an eel, when he had him hooked. That’s what has 
put him where he stands to-day. Old Perk, where 
do you think your habits will land you ? That’s 
not much like me ; my time ain’t worth a great 
deal — about as much as an Indian’s or a clam’s. 
I really believe I have been absent from prayers 
more times than I have been there, and from recita- 
tions too. I’ve been here going on a year, and 
cannot honestly say that I have studied one month, 
put it all together. I used to study before I came, 
but I’ve forgot how. Wish there wasn’t any 
water, fish, boats, guns, or footballs, nor old Perk 
either. Wish I could migrate, if it was into a 
cockroach. Wish I hadn’t been so well fitted. 
Wonder what my father will say to my term 
bill ? ” 

As Perk uttered these words, he set his back 
against a pile of the wharf, drew up his right leg, 


196 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


clasped his hands over one kne6, and leaned his 
head upon them, in no enviable state of mind. 

When he awoke from his reverie, the eels had 
all crawled out of the basket, and were disporting 
themselves in their native element. So you’re 
gone — are you ? ” cried Perk ; and do you fol- 
low suit ! And he hit the basket a kick that sent 
it spinning over the water. 

I’ll be at prayers one night, at any rate,” he 
muttered, while walking rapidly up the wharf. 

Perk got his lessons and attended prayers and 
recitations quite regularly for a while after this 
— then fell off. But the periods of application 
gradually grew longer, and the intervals of idle- 
ness shorter. He sometimes forgot to clean his 
gun, which soon grew rusty ; sometimes a charge 
rusted in. An impression was made by this trivial 
circumstance that was never effaced, and in time 
bore fruit ; and never did the good man accomplish 
so much in the same time as when he left the eel 
on the hook at Maquoit Wharf. 

When, in process of time. Perk became better 
versed in the peculiarities of the professor, he 
ceased to wonder at his recognition of him. This 
singular man never forgot any one who had been 
under his instruction, however long the interval. 

It ever excites conflicting emotions in the breast 
of an old graduate to revisit scenes where the 
happiest and most pregnant years of his life were 
spent, and those of a melancholy nature pre- 


SILENT INFLUENCE OP A GREAT EXAMPLE. 197 

dominate. His classmates are not there ; the 
greater part are in the grave. Strange faces 
meet him in the halls and recitation-rooms. Where 
once he knew every one, he is now a stranger to 
all. Even his old teachers, whom he will never 
forget, have forgotten him, and he must make 
himself known. Nothing familiar, save the trees 
in the college yards, the rooms, and inscriptions in 
pencil on the walls, made by the fingers of those 
he loved, or his own; the old stairs, worn into 
hollows by many feet, along which he used to 
skip, mounting three at once, and up which he 
now (grateful for the railing) with difficulty climbs. 
A presentiment of all this prevents many from re- 
visiting scenes once familiar, and still dear. Many 
an old graduate has gone back to Bowdoin who 
never would have done so but for the assurance 
that he should meet Professor Cleaveland before 
the door of old Massachusetts on Commencement 
morning, who, the moment his eye rested upon 
his face, would grasp his hands and call him by 
name. 

Blessings on thy memory, faithful one, — faith- 
ful even unto death, — to whom was committed 
the gift to stir young hearts to noble enterprise 
and manly efibrt ; who knew how to train the 
youthful eye to look upon, and the heart to pant 
after, the goal thou hadst reached ! Those most 
amused with thy peculiarities loved thee best. 
From hence removed to the presence and enjoy- 


198 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


ment of Him whose wisdom, power, and goodness, 
manifested in the material world, thou to us didst 
so worthily explain and illustrate, we shall behold 
thy form and press thy hand no more ; but only 
with life shall w-^^ surrender the memory of him 
who united the «,ttributes of both teacher and 
friend. 



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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 


199 


CHAPTER XIX. 

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 

I T was now twilight ; too dark to distinguish 
objects at any considerable distance. The 
inmates of Radcliffe — with the exception of 
Savage and Hathaway — were assembled in Mor- 
ton's room. Among other topics of conversation, 
reference was naturally made to the indisposition 
of Savage. 

“ What is the matter with Ed ? " said Hill : “ he 
has not left his room to-day. Somebody ought to 
go and see what is the matter." 

“ I went there this morning," said Perkins ; but 
I couldn't get in. Still was in there, and said he 
took too much last night, and didn't want to see 
anybody but him." 

Hathaway will take good care of him," said 
Morton ; “ they are sworn friends." 

I guess he'll be round to-morrow," said Fergu- 
son. I, for one, think Ed is going it a little too 
strong." 

While this conversation was taking place, Hath- 
away was fastening one end of a rope to the latch 


200 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


of the door, and the other to the baluster of the 
garret stairs. When the door was well secured, 
Savage, in his stocking-feet, with shoes in hand, 
and muffled in a cloak, stole down stairs ; while 
Hathaway, sitting down on the lower step, patient- 
ly awaited the turn of events. After a while 
Perkins rose to go, but found the door fast. 

“ Fastened in ! he shouted. 

Instantly all got hold of the catch-bolt, or thrust 
their fingers under the door, essaying to pull it 
open ; but in vain. 

ril show you how, my boys,” said Morton ; and 
going to his wood closet, he took from it a piece 
of rope, one end of which he fastened to the bolt, 
and all took hold. Meanwhile Hathaway stood 
with his ear to the door, listening. 

“A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all to- 
gether I ” shouted Perk. 

But while they were exerting themselves to the 
utmost, Hathaway cut the rope, and away they 
went, heels over head, on the floor ; picking them- 
selves up just in time to hear Hath^s retreating 
footsteps, as he cleared the door-stone. 

“ After him ! After him ! Run him down ! 
Bring him to justice ! ” And, whooping and yell- 
ing, the whole crowd put after him. They had 
their hands full. Hathaway was a splendid run- 
ner, and in excellent wind from constant practice, 
and doubled like a hare round McKeen’s store, 
round Dow’s tavern, the Lombardy poplars before 


KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 


201 


Deacon Dunning’s, and jumping the fence into the 
deacon’s garden, lay down among the potatoes. 
It cost them nearly an hour’s search to find him. 
Thoroughly rested, and with recovered wind, he 
dodged them round the chapel and other buildings, 
and then ran for the woods, where he was at length 
compelled to climb a tree, in the hope of secreting 
himself, but was discovered before he had succeed- 
ed in concealing himself among the branches. 

‘‘ Come down. Still, and surrender at discre- 
tion ! ” cried Perk. 

‘‘ Never ! Never ! ” 

Then we’ll set the tree on fire,” said Morton. 

“ Your blood be on your own head ; it is death, by 
the laws of war, to those who defend an untenable 
post. What say you, comrades ? ” 

“ So say we all of us.” 

No more of your remarks, Mrs. Fisher.” 

I summon you but once more ; capitulate, or I 
apply the torch.” 

“ I will, on one condition.” 

Name the condition.” 

“ That I descend with the honors of war, receiv- . 
ing the respect due to a brave man, and the last 
night in the term invite the fraternity to a supper 
in my room, I paying one half the expenses, and 
they the rest.” 

This being assented to, Hathaway came down, 
and they sat a long time at the foot of the tree, 
Hathaway complaining of fatigue, which, however, 


202 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


disappeared quite suddenly as soon as he per- 
ceived a bright light in a peculiar position in 
Savage’s room. 

Savage, with many misgivings, had bent his 
steps towards Massachusetts Hall, and, according 
to instructions previously received, opening the 
outer and inner doors without knocking, found 
himself in the presence of the professor. 

You are punctual, young man,” said he, ex- 
tending his right hand, while with the other he 
drew out his watch ; quite punctual ; come this 
way.” And he led him into a back room, where 
were a forge, acids, and other matters connected 
with his chemical experiments. It was utterly 
impossible for the professor to forbear laughing 
when he contemplated Savage by a good light. 

“ I certainly have lived to see,” he exclaimed 
“ what I never knew existed — a black Caucasian ! 
It has been reserved for the present age to pro- 
duce a new type, and overthrow many speculations 
of philosophers. The origin of races will have to 
be re-written.” 

“ Will it ever come off, sir ? ” 

Come off! We will make it come off; but in 
the first place, I must know what it is.” 

“Here, sir, are some hair and bristles Dr. L. 
told me to bring you.” 

The professor put the hair to his nose. “ This 
is — acid ; I know by the smell. You say you 
found yourself in this condition when you woke 
up this morning ? ” 


KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 


203 


“ Yes, sir.’^ 

“ Was the color as dark then as now ? ” 

No, sir, rather a rusty brown ; but it has been 
growing blacker ever since. 

That was the effect of the light and the oxygen 
of the air.’’ 

The professor examined the nails of his fingers, 
which were of a reddish brown. 

There is no need of tests,” said he ; I know 
what it is, and will soon remove it.” 

He went to a large closet, and took from it a 
glass vessel containing a grayish substance, which 
Savage thought looked like potash. A minute 
portion of this he weighed carefully, and mixed 
with distilled water ; then poured it into a bowl, 
and, giving Savage a piece of sponge, told him to 
wash his hands with the liquid ; when the color, 
which had been the cause of so much anxiety, 
slipped off’ as easily as an old glove. The profess- 
or told him he need only cleanse his hands and 
wrists, as the rest would wear off in a short time. 

It is,” he said, a burn, which destroys the 
scarf-skin ; in a few days it will come away, and all 
rub off by the friction of your clothes. This ap- 
plication is a deadly poison. I dare not trust you 
to apply it to your face ; I must do that myself” 
And, with the utmost patience and care, he cleansed 
his face and neck to the line concealed by his 
clothes ; after which, bidding him wash himself 
carefully in clear water, he took him into a room 


204 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


devoted to his philosophical apparatus, in which 
was a mirror used to illustrate the laws of reflec- 
tion, and holding up the light, told him to look at 
himself. 

So delighted was Savage when he perceived 
that his features were restored to their natural 
color, that he could by no means contain himself. 
He capered round the room, and, utterly oblivious 
of the awe with which he had formerly regarded 
him, seized the hand of his benefactor (who seemed 
every whit as delighted as himself), and, with tears 
of gratitude, thanked him again and again. 

“ Now, my boy,’’ said the professor, “ it may 
very well happen that our wash may not present 
so satisfactory results by day as it does by candle- 
light. There will, probably, be some little places 
around the nails, and some slight shades of color 
left. I will, therefore, give you another, less pow- 
erful mixture, to take with you.” 

Accordingly he weighed out two substances, — 
one of which looked to Savage like Glauber’s salts, 
— mixed them intimately, adding a small quantity 
of water, and, putting the whole into a bottle, 
gave it to Savage, with a piece of pumice-stone, 
There, my boy, is an application you may use 
without fear, and which, though of less power, 
will remove any lingering stains. If any color 
remains on your nails, scrape them with a piece 
of window-glass. The odor is offensive, but a 
little lemon-juice on your flesh will kill it. You 


KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 


205 


will also find it very good for removing any other 
stain.’’ 

With a bounding step and a glad heart, Savage 
made all haste to Radcliffe, which, thanks to the 
precaution of Hathaway, he found, as he expected, 
deserted by its inmates. Locking the door, he 
placed the light in the window, and paced the 
floor, surrendering himself to pleasant reflections. 
Notwithstanding his joyous mood, it seemed a 
very long time before he heard the peculiar tap 
of Hathaway. 

“ It’s off ! ” shouted his friend, the instant he 
entered the room. 

“ That’s so, old fellow ! ” cried Savage, grasping 
him by the shoulder, and shaking him in the ex- 
cess of his delight. Then, locking arms, they 
walked back and forth, talking over the affair. 

‘‘ What did he say to you, Ed ?” 

0, he’s a glorious old fellow ! He gave me 
some stuff to wash in that took it all off my hands 
in no time, and washed my face himself, just as 
kind as a father.” 

Didn’t he ask you any questions ? ” 

No, only how it looked when I first found it 
out.” 

But didn’t he ask who you suspected did it?” 

“ Not he ; if he had, I wouldn’t have told him.” 

“ Of course you wouldn’t.” 

They had already been in college long enough 
to catch V esprit de corps of college life. 


206 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ How long have you been back ? 

“ Ever so long.’^ 

“ Well, I led those fellows a chase I They 
caught me at last ; but I kept them till 1 saw the 
light.^^ 

Now, Still, wedl see how Mort looks at morn- 
ing prayers. If he has done this, — and I believe 
on my soul he has, — he must show it in his face, 
when he comes into the chapel. I mean to go in 
early, so as to look him right in the face when he 
comes in.’^ 

At any rate, Ed, whoever did it, they Ve missed 
their mark, as far as getting much sport out of it 
is concerned ; and all we have to do is to be wide 
awake, and see who knows that you ever were 
stained. Don’t you think, after all I’ve done for 
you, on this happy occasion, we ought to celebrate 
it with a bottle of wine ? ” 

Certainly,” replied Savage, going to his side- 
board, drawing the cork from a bottle, and placing 
it before his friend. 

“ But you will pledge me ? ” 

“ Not I.” 

Are you in earnest ? ” 

“ Never more so.” 

Then must I drink alone ? ” 

“ Alone, Still.” 

“ I shall have to make a vow too, or drink alone^ 
which I despise.” 

It seemed absolutely certain that Morton (who 


KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. 


207 


was all this while burning with curiosity to know 
if Savage had started for home in the night) must 
by his looks, when he should suddenly be con- 
fronted by him in the morning, confirm the sus- 
picions of these self-constituted detectives; but 
he was put upon his guard by one of those casual 
occurrences impossible to be anticipated. 

Kadcliffe Hall was situated so near the edge of 
a heavy growth of pine timber, as, on the back 
side, only to admit of a narrow path between the 
buildings and the forest, which in some places 
overhung the roof. Savage^s room was on this 
side. He rose rather earlier than usual the next 
morning, in order to examine himself by daylight ; 
and, finding some few traces of color remaining, 
began to apply the mixture given him by the pro- 
fessor, which made it necessary to wash himself in 
several waters. The smell of the preparation was 
so offensive, that instead of pouring the dirty water 
into the slop-pail, he threw it out of the window. 

Morton^s landlady had employed him to procure 
a mess of pigeons, which were to be found in this 
forest early in the morning, having roosted there 
through the night. Morton, rising with the first 
appearance of light, when Savage was sound 
asleep, procured his pigeons, and was near the 
hall on his return, when his attention was attracted 
by hearing a window shoved up in Savage's room ; 
and, looking through the woods, he saw Savage 
come to the window and throw out a bowl of water, 


208 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


noticing, with astonishment, that his face and liands 
were white. He instantly clambered into the top 
of a pitch pine, concealing himself among tlie 
branches, where, on a level with the window, he 
could look into the room. Savage, meantime, with 
his shirt-collar unbuttoned, and his shirt-sleeves 
rolled up, was busily employed scraping the color 
from his finger-nails with the point of a knife and 
a piece of window-glass. His arms were black as 
when the application was made, two nights before. 
Ignorant of all that had transpired, — the agency 
of the doctor and professor, — equally vexed and 
astonished, he knew not what to make of it. The 
discovery, however, afforded him abundant time 
to collect his faculties, and foil his antagonists. 

What is the matter, Mort? ” asked Richardson, 
noticing his abstracted look as he entered the 
room. 

“ Nothing's tha matter. I was thinking of some- 
thing." 


DRAWING INFERENCES. 


209 


CHAPTER XX. 

DRAWING INFERENCES. 

T he seats in the chapel were arranged in two 
parallel rows, on each side of a broad aisle. 
Richardson, Savage, and others occupied a form 
on the right side of this aisle ; Morton, Perkins, 
and others the opposite one, on the left. Thus, 
when they rose to go out, at the conclusion of the 
exercises, the occupants of the seats faced each 
other. 

Richardson sat at the end of the seat on the 
right hand. Savage next ; Perkins at the end of 
the seat on the left, Morton within two of it. 
When the exercises were concluded. Savage stood 
a moment in the aisle, till Morton came out, in 
order to meet him face to face ; while Hathaway 
(who had gone out of his place into the same seat 
with Savage) was narrowly watching the expres- 
sion of Morton’s countenance during the inter- 
view. But he gained no information there. Mor- 
ton met his classmate with a smile of glad recogni- 
tion, in which there was not the least manifesta- 
tion of surprise, and shook hands with him in his 
usual manner. 


14 


210 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


When, after recitation, Savage and Hathaway 
met in the room of the former, the first ques- 
tion was, — 

“ Ed, what do you think now ? 

“ What do you think. Still ? ” 

I don’t believe Morton had anything to do with 
it more than I had.” 

I do.” 

I don’t ; because I had nothing to do but look 
at him the instant in which his eye fell on your 
face ; and if he had done it, taken by surprise as 
he must have been, he would have shown it. 
You’ll have to look farther, Ed, before you find out 
the author of that mischief. Did you see anything 
in his face that looked like it ? ” 

“No, I didn’t.” 

“ Then, as I take it, the only reason why you are 
so positive he did it is, that you think there is no 
other in the college capable of it.” 

“ That is not the only reason.” 

“ Because you challenged him to ? But you 
threw that out at random to all present, to us as 
well as to him. I, or Perk, or Hill, might have 
taken it home and resented it with as good reason 
as he.” 

“0, no. Still; you are altogether out there. 
Morton got up the affair with Trafton, planned it 
all out from beginning to end, then brought it be- 
fore us, and had hard work to make us think it 
possible. Is not that so ? ” 


DRAWING INFERENCES. 


211 


“ Yes.” 

“Well, I said, ^You might play that on Jim 
Trafton, but not on one of us,’ and then added, ‘ I 
should like to see the fellow who could play such 
a game on me.’ I don’t know as those were the 
words, but that was the meaning. Now, as Mor- 
ton was the contriver of the whole thing, it was 
intended for him in particular, and so he took it.” 

“ How do you know that, pray ? ” 

“ How do I know that ? I caught his eye, and 
noticed the expression of his face ; and it said, as 
plainly as looks could say, ^ Don’t be too sure of 
that, my boy.’ To tell the truth. Still, when I saw 
that, I wished I never had said it. It was Mort. 
I can’t give it up.” 

For some days Savage resorted to every method 
in his power to ascertain whether his suspicions in 
respect to Morton were correct. He went to his 
room when he was absent, and talked with Rich- 
ardson about the different habits and capacities of 
different individuals in regard to sleep. 

“ I never saw such a boy as Mort is,” said Rich ; 
“ he’ll be up half the night upon occasion, and be 
just as bright the next morning.” 

After considerable talk of this nature. Savage 
incidentally asked where Morton was for the rest 
of the night of the entertainment in Hill’s room. 

“ In bed with me,” said Rich. 

“ Did he go to bed when you did ? ” 

“ No, but just after ; and he gave me a real hard 


212 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


kick when he got in. If it had been anybody else 
I should have been mad, he hurt me so.’’ 

After a while, he ascertained that Morton was in 
bed when Richardson got up, and was a good deal 
staggered in his opinion. It was evident that Rich- 
ardson knew nothing of it, and it was extremely 
improbable that Morton would conceal anything 
from him ; and Hathaway, to whom he related the 
conversation, was only the more fully confirmed in 
his former opinions. 

Savage and Ferguson (as our readers will rec- 
ollect) were good swimmers ; so were all the rest 
except Richardson, who could only swim four 
strokes, but was very desirous to learn. Savage 
and Hathaway cherished a perfect passion for the 
sport, and were half their time in the water when 
the tide served in the bay, and when it did not, 
went to the river. They would even go in the 
night when the tide served. 

There were no recitations Saturday afternoons ; 
it was a half holiday. 

Rich,” said Morton, if you’ll help me do my 
work on Monday, I’ll go in swimming with you 
this afternoon. The tide will be right. The fiats 
have been bare during most of the forenoon, 
become heated in the sun, and the water, fiowing 
over them, will be as warm as milk ; we can stay 
in as long as we like.” 

I should like that most of all things. I’ll help 
you Monday.” 


DRAWING INFERENCES. 


213 


We’ll ask the other fellows.” 

“ I know Savage and Hath will go. They are 
always ready to go into the water.” 

But, very much to the surprise of Richardson, 
and all except Morton, neither Savage nor Hath- 
away would or could be prevailed upon ’to go. 
Hill, Perkins, and Trafton were ready; not so, 
however, Lowell and Randall Ferguson. But this 
created no surprise, as they were good, easy-going 
fellows, who liked to take things in moderation, 
and thought it would hardly pay to walk three 
miles on a sandy road in a hot day to go in bath- 
ing, even though Rich threw in the additional in- 
ducement of a drink out of Starbird’s boiling 
spring, and Perkins that of shooting pigeons and 
having a stew in the cuddy of the old fisherman, 
even offering to carry potatoes, butter, pork, and 
all the ingredients himself. 

Rich,” said Savage, as the company were about 
starting, “ will you lend me your flute ? ” 

Yes ; look in the upper drawer of my bureau 
— here’s the key.” 

No sooner was the party out of sight, than Sav- 
age and Hathaway not only procured the flute, but 
searched the room and wood closet in quest of 
something that might confirm the suspicions of 
Savage in respect to Morton ; but without success. 
They went into Savage’s room, and he sat down to 
dissipate his chagrin by playing an air on the flute, 
while Hathaway lay upon the bed listening. 


214 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


We have referred to the prejudices entertained 
by those living at a distance from the village in 
respect to the students, and of the good opinion 
cherished by farmer Beals in regard to Morton. 
Before he had concluded his sophomore year, the 
same sentiment pervaded the whole farming com- 
munity within the radius of his excursions. We 
cannot more highly or satisfactorily account for it 
than by relating something that occurred during 
the very afternoon of which we are speaking. 

It was a sharp drought, and as they crossed a 
brook, they saw a cart with a hogshead in it filled 
with water. The teamster, after filling the cask, 
had gone away. During his absence the near ox 
got unyoked, and was feeding beside the road. 
The end of the yoke and the tongue had dropped 
to the ground, twisting the neck of the off ox, and 
placing him in a constrained and painful attitude. 
After a glance at the cart, the others passed along ; 
but Morton stopped short. 

Boys,” said he, we must not leave these cat- 
tle thus.” 

Let every one take care of his own cattle,” 
said Hill. 

But it is not right to leave a creature in dis- 
tress when we can help him ; it is not doing as we 
would be done by.” 

“ I don’t know anything about oxen,” said Perk. 

“I do ; and, if you will help me. I’ll catch the 
ox and yoke him.” 


DRAWING INFERENCES. 


215 


“ ril do what I can, Mort,’^ said Richardson. 

I shan’t go off and leave that ox so. I shouldn’t 
take any comfort swimming.” 

“ What a fellow you are, Mort ! ” said Hill. 
“ Well, boys, if we must we must.” 

Morton found the bow, caught the ox, and direct- 
ing the others to lift up the tongue, brought him 
under the yoke, and put in the bow. 

“ They are as handsome a yoke of cattle as 
I’ve seen this many a day,” said he. Now for a 
bow-pin.” 

He cut a spruce limb, and was fitting it to the 
hole when the owner of the cattle returned. He 
seemed highly gratified, and expressed his thanks 
to Morton in a very hearty manner, who in turn 
complimented him upon the looks of his oxen. 

They are as good as they look,” said the 
farmer; ^^the handiest and smartest yoke of cat- 
tle to draw I ever owned, and I’ve owned a good 
many.” 

“ Can they draw an inference ? ” asked Morton. 

I don’t know ; but I should like to hitch ’em on 
to one ; guess they’d draw it, or go through the 
yoke; never asked ’em to do anything yet they 
didn’t do.” 

Two or three weeks after this, Morton was going 
along the same road alone, with his gun. It began 
to thunder, and evidently a shower was pending. 
He saw, in a field near by, a man somewhat in 
years, assisted by a woman, striving with might 


216 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


and main to get in some rye. Morton instantly 
ran to help him, and, just as the wheels went over 
the sill of the barn door, the rain came down in 
torrents. 

You’ve saved my grain for me, young man,” 
said the farmer, wiping the sweat from his face ; 
“ and I am greatly obleeged to you. T thought it 
was a gone case. The boys are all gone, and I’ve 
been dreadin’ it all the arternoon. The tide is 
jest right for showers ; but I was in hopes ’twould 
foller the river — they often do. Set down ” — 
turning a meal-box upside down for Morton to sit 
down on, and taking a milking-stool himself. 

We’ll go into the house soon as it holds up 
a leetle. Do you belong about here, young 
man ? ” 

“ No, sir ; I am a student in college.” 

“ Whew ! a student ! Bless me, you handle a 
pitchfork as though you had seen one afore.” 

“ I have, sir. I have been brought up to 
work.” 

And you don’t feel above it ? ” 

Above it ! In my opinion, the people who labor 
are the people to be respected ; they make the 
world move.” 

You’re right, young man. What may 1 call 
your name ? ” 

“ Morton — Frederic Morton.” 

Ain’t you the young man that yoked up Ran- 
som’s ox, a while ago, down to the brook ? ” 


DRAWING INFERENCES. 


217 


I yoked up an ox I found loose a while ago.^^ 

“ I knowed it. It’s been beat into me ever 
sence I see you throw off your coat and take hold 
of that pitchfork so handy. Says I to myself. 
That’s the one that yoked up Ransom’s ox, and 
that I’ve heern Beals tell about. Do you know 
John Beals?” 

Yes, sir.” 

“ And you helped him git hay in, Fourth of 
July?” 

Yes, sir.” 

^‘The very man I was arter. You’ve got to 
keep our school this winter; I’m goin’ to strike 
while the iron’s hot, and hire you right here, in 
this ’ere barn. I’m agent for the deestrick.” 

“ I want to keep school,” said Morton, but I 
have no experience ; I have never taught.” 

“ I’ll resk you. You see, John’s agent for his 
deestrick, and I for this. He helped me reap this 
rye, — that is, we changed works, — and we 
talked the matter over. He told me they had 
made up their minds they never would have 
another student; but you wasn’t like the rest 
of ’em ; he said you cut your own fodder. Is 
that so?” 

“Yes; and sometimes I have to shave pretty 
close — keep the heel of the scythe quite near the 
ground.” 

“Wal, our school is short. We’re goin’ to 
begin airly, so as to git clear of the deep snows, 


218 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


because the children have to go a good ways. 
Theirs don’t begin till late, and we was calker- 
latin’ how as you could keep both.” 

“ I could if it didn’t interfere with term time, 
although I might perhaps get excused. What are 
the wages ? ” 

That’s where I expect the stick will he. We 
can’t give but twelve dollars ; and you’ll have 
to board round at that. T’other deestrick give 
fifteen.” 

I had rather board round than not.” 

You had ? Wal, you’re the fust student I ever 
heerd say that. I’m free to say I don’t like ’em ; 
I can’t hist ’em in.” 

“ You have been a sailor.” 

“ I’ve sailed some, I reckon ; but how did you 
know that ? ” 

“ Because you said hoist ’em in. I’ve heard my 
uncle, au old sea captain, make use of the same 
expression.” 

** You’re a sharp one.” 

“ But I don’t think I know just what it means.” 

“ You see, when we want to take a hogshead 
of molasses or rum on board a vessel, we hook 
the can-hooks on it, hist it on board, and stow it 
away in the ^ hole.’ So, when a sailor man says 
he can’t hist a feller in, he means he wants to 
keep him outside the rail.” 

Don’t have confidence in him.” 

“That’s it. But what say? Will you come? 


DRAWING INFERENCES. 


219 


I know you^re wuth more ; but as you’re a green 
hand, perhaps you might.” 

“ Morton, after reflection, said, If I could have 
a singing school, I would do it.” 

A singin’ school ? That’s jest what we want, 
and been wantin’ ; and so they do in the other 
deestrick. You might keep two.” 

You think, then, there’s no doubt but I can 
have the school in the other district ? ” 

Jest as sure of it as I am that the wild geese 
will fly over next spring.” 

“ Well, Mr. — I do not know your name.” 

Blaisdell — Edward Blaisdell.” 

“ Well, Mr. Blaisdell, I will come and do the 
best I can ; but the shower is over, and I must 
return.” 

Not till you go into the house and have some 
supper.” 

I thank you, sir ; but I shall be late for 
prayers.” 

We’ll have supper right off. I’ll take the 
horse and drive you up quicker than you can 
walk there.” 

When they parted at the posts of the college 
yard, Blaisdell told Morton to come to his house to 
board first, and that he would hear from John 
Beals before the week was out. 

We have made this digression in order that 
our young readers may, to some extent, com- 
prehend the reasons of Morton’s popularity in 


220 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


the neighborhood, and why it was that, though 
inferior to none in ability, the roughest men 
were, to use Blaisdell’s figure, ready to hist him 
in ” — a state of affairs which reverted in no 
trifling degree to the benefit of all the inmates 
of Eadcliffe. 


BETTEE TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 


221 


CHAPTER XXL 

BETTER TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 

T O resume the thread of our narrative, Hatha- 
way, whom we left lying on the bed at Rad- 
cliffe, listening to Savage, took advantage at the 
conclusion of a tune to say, Ed, didn’t you want 
to go to Maquoit with the rest ? ” 

“ Didn’t I ? If there’s anything in the world I 
like, it is to go into the salt water.” 

“ It was such a nice day, too ! tide right, and 
water warm.” 

“ Look here. Still ; let us go down to the An- 
droscoggin and go in.” 

Agreed ; I know a place where nobody will see 
us, and where no students ever go, and there’s a 
raft of logs to dive from.” 

As they were hurrying down stairs past the open 
door of Lowell’s room, he called out, Where are 
you going?” 

“ Down to the river, to go in swimming.” 

Let us go, Ferg.” 

Well, I don’t care if I do.” 

‘‘ Why, you just refused to go with the others, 


222 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


and they couldn’t coax you to,” cried Savage, 
scarcely able to conceal his vexation. 

There’s some difference,” said Lowell, “ be* 
tween walking to Maquoit this hot day, and just 
going down to the river : come, if you’re going ; 
come along ; we have no time to lose, if we intend 
to get back to prayers.” Thus saying, he walked 
along with Ferg. Savage and Hathaway followed 
reluctantly, very much like a truant to school. 

1 guess I won’t go,” said Savage, as they ap- 
proached the limits of the college yard. 

“ Nor I, either,” said Hathaway ; we shan’t get 
back to prayers.” 

“ Yes, we shall,” said Ferg. I’m sure it’s the 
first time you ever cared whether you were absent 
or not.” 

We can’t have any enjoyment,” said Savage; 
who wants to hurry down there this hot day, 
jump into the water, out again, and hurry back ? ” 

The conversation was interrupted by the ap- 
proach of the president, when (as they were still 
within the limits of the college yard) all took off 
their hats. 

I,” continued Savage, want to stay in as long 
as I like, and have a good swim, and a good time 
of it.” 

‘^Besides,” said Hathaway, “we shan’t know 
what time it is ; we ought to have ^ Time-of-day ’ 
with us ; he’s gone with the others.” 

Our young readers will bear in mind, that al- 


BETTER TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 


223 


though boys of that period were in general unsur* 
passed in energy, shrewdness, and the early devel- 
opment of practical ability and tact, yet in many 
other respects they were far less precocious than 
at present. Boys were boys then, and attained 
their majority only at twenty-one. 

Thus there was not a watch owned or carried 
by any of the inmates of Badcliffe, except Trafton. 
The squire was so delighted with the first term 
bill which came home, that he sent him a watch. 
It did not much resemble a Waltham watch of the 
present day, being an old-fashioned English bulPs- 
eye, as they were then called, very convex, an 
inch in thickness, and with as much silver in the 
case as in three of those in present use, and was 
also set off with a flat chain of silver network, 
nearly an inch in width, with a large stone of the 
size of a walnut, that revolved in a silver bow. 
The key hung beside it by a single chain, and it 
was worn in a fob. 

Trafton was excessively proud of this watch; 
and when not otherwise engaged, he was twirling 
this stone, and fondling the chain. He pulled out 
the watch every time an opportunity offered, and 
even created opportunities. His classmates there- 
fore christened him Time-of-day,’^ and persisted 
in addressing him by that appellation, till he would 
answer to it as readily as to his proper name. 

“ I shan’t go, at any rate,” said Savage ; “ I’ve 
got a letter to write home.” 


224 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ My boot has got a peg in it that hurts my foot,’^ 
said Hathaway ; “ I can’t go.” 

“ Stay where you are, then,” said Lowell, pro- 
voked ; “ we can do very well without you.” 

“ Isn’t it too bad. Still, after being cheated out 
of going to Maquoit, that these fellows must stick 
in their oars ! You ought not to have told them 
where we were going.” 

^‘How could I divine they would want to go 
with us, when Rich and all the rest could not per- 
suade them to go an hour since ? ” 

We have spoken of the students taking off their 
hats when meeting the president in the college 
yard. Our readers will recollect that Maine was, 
at the time the college was established, and for 
many years after, a district of Massachusetts. 

Bowdoin College was regarded as an offshoot 
from Harvard, and had circumstances and the spirit 
of the times permitted, would doubtless have re- 
sembled its parent in the rigid nature and formal 
tone of intercourse between student and Faculty. 
Perhaps we cannot in so few words better illus- 
trate the spirit of that intercourse in old times 
at Harvard, than by relating an actual occurrence. 

A freshman (who, having recently entered, was 
ignorant of college customs, and very diffident) 
was crossing the yard, when a professor, in all the 
dignity of the old-time college dress, beckoned 
him to approach. Anxious only to obey, he ran 
up to him. 


BETTER TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 


225 


Where is your hat, sir? Take these letters to 
the office.’^ . 

On his return he met the professor again, 
and, with his hat under his arm, approaching him, 
said,. — 

Sir, I have done as you requested — ” 

“ Stop.’' 

Terrified half out of his wits, and not knowing 
what else to say, he was beginning again, when he 
was silenced by the professor exclaiming, Stop ; 
we don’t request ; we order. 

He said he never forgot that treatment, and that 
it rankled, for he was doing all he could to oblige. 

But this spirit could not be transplanted into 
Maine ; the atmosphere was by no means congenial 
to its growth, or even existence. The people had 
departed very widely from the customs of their 
fathers. Many of them were lumbermen, fisher- 
men, masters of vessels, merchants, who had grown 
suddenly rich by rise of lands, lucky ventures, 
privateering, and smuggling timber and provisions 
into Spanish ports, and their children had grown 
up with little respect for dignities. 

The district was largely democratic. 

Radicalism of all kinds found a home in Maine 
and New Hampshire. There were New Lights, as 
they were called, who preached that ministers 
should have neither learning nor salaries, and were 
particularly severe upon the old standing order 
and tithes ; would get people together in a school- 
15 


226 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


house, ask a sister to read a chapter ; thank God 
they couldn’t read ; and then they would speak 
from the impulse of the spirit. 

When the meeting closed, a hat was carried 
round, in order to raise money just to pay the 
exhorter’s expenses; and he carried off far more 
than the stipend of the regular clergyman ; for the 
man who thought it very hard to pay two dollars a 
year ministerial tax, would fling in fifty cents 
every time the hat came round, though it was 
three times a week, because he didn’t have to. 

Persons who know how tenacious of life are old 
customs in college, and among the clergy, will not 
be surprised that some vestiges of the ancient 
spirit and customs long lingered, and met Savage 
and his mates as they crossed the threshold of 
academic life. 

If Savage now desisted from all further efforts 
at investigation, it was because he was at his wits’ 
end, although he still retained his impressions in 
respect to the author of his misfortune. 

“ Ed,” said Hathaway, if I was in your place, 
and wanted to know as much as you do (and I 
believe you think of nothing else), I would save 
myself all further trouble by asking Morton.” 

“ Still,” said he, drawing his chair close to 
Hathaway, and turning up the lid of his right eye 
with his finger, do you see anything green 
there ? ” 

‘‘ And do you see anything green there ? ” re- 
plied his friend, with a similar gesture. 


BETTER TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 


227 


You must be green to think I would ask such 
a question as that.’^ 

“ I should ; you would know, then, one way or 
the other, and be satisfied.’^ 

Do you mean to tell me a fellow so keen and 
deep as Morton would be fool enough to own up 
for the asking ? ” 

“ I know Fred Morton a great deal better than 
you do. I know he can’t tell a lie ; it is not in 
him.” 

That kind of thing is not considered lying.” 

“ He would consider it so.” 

“ If that is the case, he is not a very safe fel- 
low for us to have in the building, and be so thick 
with.” 

« Why so ? ” 

Suppose we should get into a scrape, he was 
privy to it, and should be hauled up, and required 
to tell what he knew in relation to it ; wouldn’t 
he lie?” 

No, sir.” 

Would he bring us out?” 

“ No.” 

“ What would he do, if he was brought right 
square up to yes or no ? ” 

Acknowledge he knew, but wouldn’t tell.” 

^^Then he would be sent off for contempt of 
court.” 

That wouldn’t move him.” 

What, a fellow as ambitious as he is ? ” 


228 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Not a hair.’^ 

Still, you’re only talking to hear yourself 

talk.” 

I sometimes talk to hear myself talk, but not 
now. I tell you, Ed, if Fred Morton would love 
me as he does Rich, I would crawl from here home 
on my knees.” 

“ Well, I’m going to ask him.” 

“ Suppose he says he didn’t.” 

I’ll do my best to believe him, and give it up 
at that” 

What will you do if he says he did? ” 

“ Do ? I’ll forgive, honor, and respect him as I 
never respected the face of clay ; ” and starting 
up, he ran out of the room. 

In a few moments he returned. 

“ Did you ask him ? ” 

I knocked on his door, but he said, ^ Busy.’ I 
suspect Rich was there, and I want to find him 
alone.” 

As they came from the recitation-room the next 
forenoon, Richardson and Perkins went to the 
post-office. 

“ Now is your time, Ed,” said Hathaway, touch- 
ing Savage on the shoulder, who followed Morton 
to his room. 

Sit down. Savage.” 

I want to ask you a question first.” 

Say on.” 

“ Did you come into my room the night we 


BETTER TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 


229 


had the time in Hill’s room, and stain me from 
head to foot?” 
did.” 

“ Mort, you are a gentleman, scholar, Christian, 
and if there’s anything better, you are that.” 

“ What for ? Putting that stuff on you ? ” 

For coming right out and saying so to my face. 
As for what you did, I have no right to complain ; 
I stumped you to do your prettiest.” 

“ Did you think I would lie ? ” 

“ The whole world would not have made me 
believe that you or any other wouldn’t lie (if you 
call it lying) in a case like that.” 

“ I am a great way from being a Christian, Ed ; 
but my parents brought me up to speak the truth, 
and I shall never do anything else.” 

“ You are good enough, Fred ; don’t, I beg of 
you, go to being any better, for I want to associate 
with you. You’ve kept one of the command- 
ments, at any rate.” 

“ Yes, I’ve kept one ; I hope more ; but we 
read of a person who kept them all, and yet was 
found lacking. But if you expected me to lie, 
why did you ask me ? ” 

“ I shouldn’t ; but I had racked my brains in vain 
to find out, and Still persuaded me to do it.” 

“ Still Hathaway knows whether 1 make a prac- 
tice of lying or not.” 

Did Rich know anything about it ? ” 

“ No.” 


230 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


“ I don’t believe he’d do as you have done.” 

“I do ; we are just alike.” 

“ You’re no more alike than chalk and cheese.” 

“We are, as respects principles: he is delicate 
— sensitive as an aspen leaf ; but there is plenty 
of iron underneath, when it comes to a question of 
right and wrong. I couldn’t love him as much as 
I do, if I didn’t respect him.” 

“ Mort, I wish you could respect me.” 

“ I do respect you, Ed.” 

“ For what — indolence, lying, and half a dozen 
other vices ? ” 

“ No ; but for your respect for the truth. It 
seems you respect me for telling the truth. 
There’s also another reason. I overheard your 
conversation with Hathaway, and said to myself, 
^ A fellow who has pluck enough to walk seventy- 
five miles alone in the night must have some good 
at bottom. I won’t try to prevent him.’ ” 

“ And you gave up the very sweetest part of 
your sport, which was, having everybody know it.” 
“ I did.” 

“ You are a noble fellow, Mort. I wish you 
would try to like me. I don’t care anything about 
rank; but I do believe, that for the respect and 
good will of a fellow like you, I would try to make 
something of myself. I believe it would make me 
lift harder than all other motives put together.” 

“ I don’t imagine I should have to try very hard 
to love you, Ed, if you would but do one thing.” 


BETTER TO SUPPER THAN TO LIE. 


231 


“ What is that ? ” 

“ Let wine alone. I can see that it is fast en- 
slaving you, and you know what the result would 
be, should it obtain the mastery.’’ 

“ I have already decided to do so ; when I woke 
up in the morning, and found what condition I was 
in, I made a vow that it was the last time I would 
ever put myself in anybody’s power.” 

“ Then I am glad I did it.” 

“ So am I.” 

“ How did you get it off? ” 

I went to Old Cleave.” 

How dared you to ? ” 

The doctor put me up to it.” 

What did I tell you ? ” said Hathaway, when 
Savage made known to him the result of the 
interview. 

“ Still, how came you to know so much about 
Morton ? ” 

My uncle Stillman, whom 1 was named after, 
lives in the same town ; belongs to his father’s con- 
gregation. 1 have been up there to school ; went 
to school with Morton, and sat with him all one 
winter.” 

What did Mort refer to, when he said you 
knew whether he would lie ? ” 

Hathaway blushed, and hung his head. 

You and I have no secrets j tell me.” 

“ I won’t.” 

“ Then I’ll ask Mort.” 


232 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ O, don’t do that.” 

Well, tell me yourself, then.” 

“ If you must know, — the winter I was at school 
there, they had an excellent teacher, as far as abil- 
ity and effort to teach the boys went, but a real 
savage in disposition. He had a thermometer, a 
magnet, and a glass tube, with which he used to 
generate electricity by friction with a silk hand- 
kerchief, and cause it to attract the beards of 
feathers. These were great affairs up there in the 
woods, and made the natives stare. He used to 
keep all these things under lock and key in his 
desk. One day he forgot to lock it. I and another 
boy, by the name of Lunt, found it out, and be- 
tween schools got the thermometer, held it to the 
fire to see the mercury rise, and burst it. We put 
it back, and kept dark.” 

1 guess somebody caught it then.” 

“ Morton and the rest were looking on. There 
was a pretty storm, you may depend, when he 
found it out.” 

What did he do ? ” 

“ In the first place, he asked every one in the 
school if he did it. They all denied it. He then 
asked each one if he knew who did it ; they all 
denied, till he came to Morton.” 

“Yes — what then ? ” 

“ ‘ Morton, do you know who broke that ther- 
mometer ? ’ 

“ ^ Yes, sir.’ 


BETTER TO SUFFER THAN TO LIE. 


233 


< Who ? ' 

' Cannot tell, sir.^ 

^ You shall tell, or Fll take your hide off. Will 
you think better of it, and tell ? ^ 

^ No, sir.^ 

^ Come out in the floor.’ 

He gave him an awful whipping, but it was 
still, ^ No, sir ; ’ he wouldn’t tell, and didn’t tell.” 

And you sat by, and saw that flogging given, 
and held your tongue ! That master ought to have 
been hung as high as Haman, and you and Lunt 
to his heels. Why, I never thought you were such 
a fellow as that ; I have never seen anything like 
it in you.” 

It is not my nature. I don’t believe, the day 
before or the day after, I should have done so ; but 
somehow, that day I was unmanned ; I wasn’t Still 
Hathaway that day ; I was somebody else ; but 
I’ve suffered enough since in my mind. I believe 
I’ve suffered more than he did. Every one re- 
spected him, but despised me, and I despised my- 
self, and I know Morton must.” 

“ What did he say ? ” 

Nothing.” 

How did he seem ? ” 

“ Treated me just as before, but didn’t seem to 
have any attachment to me — no cordiality.” 

“ I shouldn’t have thought he would.” 

I believe, if he only knew how bad I have felt 
since, how mean, and how I have carried that feel- 


234 


THE SPARE OP GENIUS. 


ing like a lump of lead in my breast, he would 
forgive me.” 

“ Why don’t you tell him how you feel ? ” 

I can’t ; when I am in the room with him, I 
feel as though he was way above me, and almost a 
being of another world.” 

I am going to turn over a new leaf. The pres- 
ident and professors might talk to me about im- 
proving time and talents, and all that sort of thing, 
till they were blind ; it would be of little use : 
they might as well try to wet a goose ; they are 
too far up in the air ; but I have felt something to- 
day that has gone to the right place. Here is 
Morton, as full of spice as ever I was, and ten times 
more. He is on my own level, and I’ll give him 
good cause to respect me, and perhaps more, 
before a year, or my name’s not Ed Savage.” 

“ And what is to become of me ? Am I to be 
thrown overboard ? ” 

“ No, old shipmate,” said Savage, putting his arm 
round him ; “ you’ll have a talk with Mort before 
long, spit the old matter all up, and turn over a 
new leaf, too.” 


RESULTS OF COLLEGE LIFE. 


235 


CHAPTER XXII. 

RESULTS OF COLLEGE LIFE. 

I T is often a matter of surprise, to older per- 
sons, that boys should be so restless in col- 
lege, and want to be doing all sorts of things ; and 
college students are often made the subjects of 
very severe and sweeping remarks, and animad- 
versions. 

Why, in the name of all that is good and de- 
cent, it is said, don’t they attend to their lessons, 
fit themselves for usefulness, improve to the ut- 
most those privileges which entail so heavy an 
expense upon their parents, and those youthful 
hours so precious, and never to be recalled ? ” 

On the other hand, there are several consider- 
ations and facts, which, if duly weighed, might 
go far to modify these opinions, and render these 
censures less severe and sweeping. 

The first and most important consideration is, 
they are boys; the great majority of them are 
quite young. Boys begin to learn Latin grammar 
when they are twelve years old ; many previous 
to that. Some people are simple enough (and the 


236 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


number seems to be increasing) to cherish a fool- 
ish pride in the precocity of their children, at an 
age when the bodily frame, which, like the bed- 
pieces of an engine, is the platform upon which 
the mental powers rest, and by means of which 
they operate, ought to be consolidated by labor, 
exercise, and play, for its life-work and warfare. 
They are students. 

Those who are most conservative, and possessed 
of sense and stamina sufficient to disregard fashion 
and outside pressure, consider it most important 
that their boys should graduate at twenty-one ; but 
as for others, they think the younger the better. 
Many enter college at fifteen. 

Children and youth play and exercise instinc- 
tively, without any object to be accomplished, or 
end to be gained, for the mere pleasure it affords 
them, and to vent their superfluous energy. 

Who has not noticed the ill success which model- 
ling people, who never had any childhood, meet 
with, when they set out to teach a parcel of chil- 
dren to play with propriety? The children don’t 
want to, and won’t play with propriety ; don’t want 
any object, or to play for any end ; merely want to- 
play, and don’t want any assistance, nor thank 
anybody for interfering ; know they are fully com- 
petent to enjoy themselves, and prefer to play, 
neither in right angles nor triangles, but every 
which way, like a striped squirrel on a log fence. 

Boys at the age at which the majority enter cof 


RESULTS OF COLLEGE LIFE. 


237 


lege are not at a great remove from childhood ; 
the reflective faculties are not highly developed, 
and ought not to be. It is altogether idle to ex- 
pect them to appreciate as older people the priv- 
ileges they enjoy, or to labor for the same objects ; 
you will make no great impression upon those to 
whom a month seems a long time, and four years 
almost infinite, by talking about “ tempus fugit ; ’’ 
they want it to fly, and only wish they were twen- 
ty-one. The relation of May to October, the bear- 
ing of present efibrt upon future success, and the 
obligations of duty, are not realized by them, as 
by those who have been through it all, and reaped 
wisdom, perhaps from a bitter experience. 

The better class of minds are more influenced 
by their previous training in that most potent of all 
formative institutions — home ; by emulation, one 
of the powers most early developed ; by an innate 
love of knowledge ; by an instinctive conscious- 
ness that rt is power ; and by a desire to gratify 
their parents, more than by any other motives. 

If a boy possessed of strong imagination, fervid 
temperament, and active brain, is at the same 
time naturally ambitious and conscientious, the 
result of the forcing process upon him is, that he 
dies, goes mad, or is a paralytic in the prime of his 
usefulness; and many good people turn up the 
whites of their eyes and moralize about an early 
grave and an early heaven. If possessed of capa- 
cities, with no love for study, destitute of ambi- 


238 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


tion, and little under the control of conscience, his 
energies will probably find vent in mischief, which, 
notwithstanding all that has been written, preached, 
or said on the subject, common sense (borne out by 
facts, which are said to be stubborn things) de- 
clares is, in many cases. Nature avenging herself, 
and but the rank luxuriance which betokens a fer- 
tile soil. 

To those possessed of suflScient energy to be of 
any use in the world, there is nothing harder to 
endure than monotony. We have read of one who 
was driven mad by being compelled to stand where 
a single drop of water fell constantly upon his 
head. We tire of unvaried food, duties, engage- 
ments, and scenes, and long for a change, though 
it be for the worse. 

In the arrangements of the universe, the Crea- 
tor has gratified this natural craving by not mak- 
ing the earth one dead flat, the leaves of a uniform 
size and hue, every human mind and face just 
alike, and all voices pitched to the same key. 

It is well known to all familiar with the opera- 
tions of mind, that very sedate sentiments are often 
exalted to a high pitch of enthusiasm merely by 
companionship, and that too many persons, of by 
no means enthusiastic tempers, when acting singly 
are like coals scattered on a hearth, partially ig- 
nited, which would go out if left to themselves, 
but burst into a flame when raked together. 

Here are a hundred and twenty boys, perhaps 


RESULTS OP COLLEGE LIFE. 


239 


two hundred, from fifteen to eighteen years of age, 
— perhaps a few twenty-one, or even older than 
that, — assembled within the limits of the college. 
These young persons, removed at once from happy 
homes, the society of brothers and sisters, aaid all 
those enjoyments and relaxations which give 
variety to, and make up the happiness of, social 
life, are placed in an unnatural state of society, 
composed of one sex, subjected to an unvarying 
routine, their hours for study, meals, and worship 
regulated by the stroke of a bell, at a period of life 
when all the powers are most exuberant, when the 
bodily frame abounds with superfluous energy, and 
the muscles ache for employment. 

In many cases the natural bias and capacities of 
the boy have not been regarded ; he is by parental 
authority devoted to a course of life for which he 
was never made, and has no capacity — foreign to 
all his instincts, and against which his very soul 
rebels. Each of these causes contributes its quota 
to render the regular tasks of college dry, and 
some relief desirable, especially in the first part of 
the course, when habit (which reconciles to almost 
anything) has not attained its full influence over 
the mind. 

Even men in a ship-yard, under hard frosts and 
the broiling sun, will play tricks upon each other, 
some of which would very much astonish those 
who suppose the practice peculiar to college 
students. 


240 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Sometimes on board ship, when “ running down 
the trades,” wind fair all the time, week after week 
from the same quarter, not a rope started except 
occasionally, the monotony becomes tedious, sailors 
long for a squall, and finally it becomes insupport- 
able. A man, seeing another walking along before 
him, gives him a kick ; the other, turning around, 
knocks him down : this at once occasions a general 
row, all hands fighting, no one knows for what. 
After it is over they feel first rate, like each other 
better than before, and the monotony is broken. 
A squall would have done just as well ; but as 
none came, they made one. It is not singular, 
therefore, that even the best scholars should at 
times feel strongly tempted to create a change. 

Persons without actual experience of college 
life might, by perusing some of the previous 
pages, be betrayed into supposing them to be in- 
stitutions devoted to the express purpose of cutting 
up shines. It should, however, be recollected 
that what is here presented in continuity and the 
lump, occupied and was scattered over the space 
of a year, being accomplished during the intervals 
of a period devoted by the greater portion of the 
participants to close study. It may likewise be 
pertinent, in this connection, to observe, that in 
respect to the severe judgments often passed upon 
college students as a whole, nothing could be more 
unjust. The indolent, vicious, uproarious boys are 
but a very small proportion of the whole; very 


RESULTS OF COLLEGE LIFE. 


241 


few in each class, though, taking the four classes 
together, they constitute quite a number, and of this 
number even, but a small portion incline to any- 
thing of a very criminal character; but from the 
amazing activity of this minority, the perfect 
abandon and zest with which they prosecute their 
designs, the fact that better things are expected 
of persons thus circumstanced, their doings attract 
more attention, receive severer criticism, than 
they really merit ; and as a few grains of musk 
will scent a cathedral, the faults of the few are at- 
tributed to the many. More especially is this true 
in respect to many residents of the places where 
these colleges are located, who, sometimes sulfer- 
ing from the pranks of their occupants, are not 
wont to discriminate in their estimate, but con- 
demn the whole, resembling, in that respect, the 
North American savages, who tomahawk and scalp 
a whole community in return for injuries received 
from a few. 

College officers are also oftentimes vilified and 
unjustly dealt with, by reason of their ill success 
in enforcing order, and conducting students to an 
honorable issue at the termination of the four 
years’ course ; in respect to which it may be said 
that the community provide the raw material, and 
they (the officers) cannot be justly held responsi- 
ble to produce diamonds from charcoal. 

Most of the insubordination of college boys is 
indirectly traceable to inadequate training else- 
16 


242 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


where. Nearly all those who are ruined in college 
commenced the process at home, and those who 
have sown the wind have no right to complain if 
they reap the whirlwind. Many well-disposed and 
studious youths, at the period of which we speak, 
were somewhat inclined to mischief, by reason of 
missing the healthy influences of athletic sports — 
wrestling (which was an established custom in 
earlier times, the third class wrestling with the 
freshmen upon their entrance) having gone out of 
fashion, and not yet replaced by gymnastic ex- 
ercises. 

Dr. Packard, of Wiscasset, a ripe scholar, a suc- 
cessful pastor, and of most courteous manners, was 
at the same time a very athletic man, and could 
throw any man in Harvard College. 

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine what the Rad- 
clifies might have originated, had not Morton 
found vent for superfluous energies in labor, and 
the others in sailing, gunning, and aiding him. 

Any one who will take the pains duly to con- 
sider the natural operations of the causes referred 
to will be rather surprised that matters are no 
worse ; that so vast an amount of good is really 
accomplished, so much yearly added to the forces 
of righteousness and truth. 

The evils of college life are often exaggerated. 
Take fifty boys in society anywhere, and fifty 
students, note their progress in life, and you will, 
I think, find, that notwithstanding all that is some* 


RESULTS OP COLLEGE LIFE. 


243 


times said, the balance will be in favor of the 
students, and that in no small ratio. When a 
young man in college makes shipwreck, his fall 
attracts attention, because he has formed a large 
circle of acquaintances, and has been placed in a 
conspicuous position ; while no notice beyond the 
narrow circle of their family and relatives is taken 
of those who, in mixed society, pass into oblivion 
unnoticed, as the leaf that falls in the silence of 
lonely forests. 

It is said there was a little mouse that lived in a 
big chest, which he always supposed to be all the 
world, until one morning he crawled up on the till 
and looked around him. It would be an excellent 
thing for some people if they could get up on the 
till of their chest. We are not to look for perfec- 
tion in human institutions. Many a careless sopho- 
more comes to his senses in his senior year ; 
wastt'd hours furnish a life-long incentive, and the 
laps*" is more than redeemed. 


244 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XXIIL 

LATENT ENERGIES DEVELOPED. 

T he term which was to end the freshman year 
was now drawing to a close. The greater 
part of the inmates of Radcliffe were busily oc- 
cupied (with the exception of Hill, Hathaway, and 
Trafton) preparing for the annual examination, upon 
which depended their admittance into the sopho- 
more class. Morton and Richardson had been so 
thorough in all the studies of the year, that review 
was a mere pleasure to them ; and it was much the 
same with Lowell and Ferguson. 

It was a very different matter in regard to the 
others. Savage and Perkins (one since his meet- 
ing with Professor Cleaveland on the wharf, and 
the other since his conversation with Morton) had 
studied faithfully ; but previous to that, they and 
all the rest had gotten their lessons only to recite, 
and forgotten them directly after ; they left so many 
difficulties in their rear, skipped so many hard 
places, slurred over so many more, left so many 
roots of exceptional weeds in the soil not dug out, 
paid so little attention to the laws of language, 


LATENT ENERGIES DEVELOPED. 


245 


grammar, and the principles of mathematics, ponied 
and been helped so much by others, that the 
studies of the year were a complete chaos, with 
the exception of mathematics, for which Perkins 
possessed a natural capacity. 

Trafton was worse off than all the rest, as all 
but him were boys of good capacity, and had been 
well fitted. It was not too late, even now, to 
recover, by severe application, the lost ground. 
Savage, who had conceived a strong affection for 
Morton, determined to win his regard, and Perkins, 
who still cherished the impression made at the 
wharf, set themselves resolutely to redeem the lost 
time. As for the others, they threw themselves 
upon the charity of their classmates ; and getting 
together in the rooms of Morton and Richardson, 
Lowell and Ferguson read over the lessons with 
them, and determined to trust to luck, memory, 
and the chance of being taken up on an easy 
place. 

Savage endeavored to inspire Hathaway with 
his own sentiments ; but he seemed unhappy, 
devoid of energy, and disposed to let matters take 
their own course, saying, “It’s no use, Ed; I’m 
going to cheek it.” 

The president’s wife wanted a stand made to set 
fiowers on, which had been in the ground during 
the summer, but must soon be taken into the house, 
and, coming into the yard where Morton and Rich 
were digging potatoes, asked Mort if he could 
make one. 


246 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


Tell her yes, Mort,^^ whispered Rich ; Idl 
make it.” 

But that was not in accordance with Mort’s 
straightforward nature. He modestly replied that 
his chum, who was more accustomed to handling 
tools, and had a great deal of mechanical genius, 
would make it. 

“ Why didn’t you tell her you’d make it, Mort? ” 

“ And then have you make it, and take the 
credit of it myself? .That would be just like Jim 
Trafton.” 

Well, you’ve got to take the pay.” 

“ By no means, my dear fellow ; couldn’t think 
of it.” 

Now, Mort ! ” 

Now, Rich ! ” 

But you need it, and I don’t. Won’t you do 
something to gratify me ? ” 

“ You know I’d do anything to gratify you, ex» 
cept to tell a lie.” 

O, you provoking boy ! It seems you can say 
^sharp things, as well as other folks.” 

Yes ; but I caught it sleeping with you.” 

“ You know if you don’t want the money, you 
can give it to Harry’s wife ; she is poor, with a 
large family.” 

“ Will you promise to be a good boy for the rest 
of the term, get your lessons, and not cut up any 
shines, nor tell any lies ? ” 

“Yes.” 


LATENT ENERGIES DEVELOPED. 


247 


Having made the stand, Richardson obtained 
some paint, and painted it a very handsome bronze, 
after which Morton embellished it with appropriate 
designs, among which was a bird with a flower in 
its beak. 

“ Brother of my soul,’^ said Rich (this was his 
mode of expressing himself when he felt particular- 
ly affectionate, and he did it with a tone and man- 
ner that were irresistibly winning), ^^what think 
you I have been meditating upon while working 
alone in the garret 

“ 0, what your mother and sisters will say when 
they see these hands (taking Richardson’s hands 
in his own) stained with the juice of witch-grass 
roots and sorrel, the blood settled under this 
thumb nail where you hit it with the hammer, that 
brow once so white, those cheeks where the lily 
mingled with the rose so embrowned, and that 
delicate frame so coarse and muscular.” 

About keeping school.” 

“1 never should have guessed that. What in 
the world do you want to keep school for? I 
should think you would rather stay at home with 
your brothers and sisters, and all the friends whom 
IVe heard you tell so much about ; go to parties 
and sleigh-rides, and have the best time that ever 
was. I tell you there’s not much romance in keep- 
ing school, sleeping in cold rooms and beds, being 
among all sorts of folks, having to get along with 
dull scholars and rough people, perhaps have to 


248 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


walk two miles through snow or rain, be all day in 
a cold school-house, obliged in many cases to 
board round in families that are poor, and sleep 
with one of the boys.” 

But you expect to do it.” 

To be sure ; but IVe been brought up less 
tenderly than you, have never been accustomed to 
luxuries, and my father being a minister in a coun- 
try parish, have always been accustomed to just 
such people as 1 shall meet there. To confess the 
truth, I love the people that love hard work, and 
more than all, I’m obliged to work.” 

‘‘ Do you know, Mort, that 1 have very different 
ideas about work from those I cherished once ? I 
thought labor degrading ; prided myself upon my 
delicacy ; my tastes were all effeminate. As 1 was 
a good scholar, and loved study, was praised by 
my tutor, family, all my friends, and especially by 
the young ladies of my acquaintance, 1 became (as 
the president says) inflated, and thought there 
were very few to compare with me ; but when 1 
came here, I soon surrendered that opinion. 1 
have often said to myself. Here is my chum, not 
quite two years older than myself, never enjoyed 
one half my advantages ; and what am 1 in com- 
parison with him? If we were both set up at 
auction, nobody would bid a penny on me. I have 
found out there is a great deal of knowledge 
besides that contained in books.” 

“ Rich, stop depreciating yourself ; it is wrong.’’ 


I.ATENT ENEIKJIES DEVELOPED. 


249 


I am not half through yet. Sometimes, as 1 
have lain down beside you Saturday night, when 
you had been at work all the afternoon, I have 
thought. Here is a boy, that, from the time he was 
capable of doing anything, has aided his parents, 
and is now aiding himself ; is a splendid scholar, 
and has a world of practical knowledge besides ; 
while my father applies himself most closely to 
business, and permits himself scarcely any relaxa- 
tion, to support us all in luxury, who never earned 
a cent ourselves. I tell you it has cost him a deal 
to educate us thus far, and he has earned it all 
himself. Ever since the president dropped the 
money into my hand for making that flower-stand, 
I have been haunted with the idea of earning 
something ; and earn something 1 will; ” and his face 
lighted up with a noble expression. 

Morton looked at him with undisguised admira- 
tion, as he said, Your parents won’t permit it.” 

“ But could I get a school, if they would ? ” 

Yes, as well as other folks.” 

“ Well, you see if I don’t find a way to reconcile 
them.” 

“ It seems to me that the chink of the president’s 
money in your hand put a great many ideas into 
your head all at once.” 

It was not done at once, Mort ; the process 
began soon after I came to college, and has been 
going on ever since. There was a Mr. Mayberry, 
who used every year to mow a small field of my 


250 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


father. I (who never had anything to do after I 
got my lessons, and no. boys to play with, having 
no schoolmates) was looking at him one day, and 
said, ‘ Mr. Mayberry, how fast you mow ! ^ 

^ Everybody mows fast, young man, when they 
mow alone.’ 

“ I couldn’t think what he meant by that, but 
have ascertained since I came here. The reason I 
felt so nice, entertained so good an opinion of my- 
self, was, I always mowed alone. 

That is so. I used to think, after I first learned, 
that I could outmow anybody, till Mr. Harmon 
came (a man father used to hire sometimes) ; then 
I was taught humility very soon. 

“ I don’t believe it’s the way for boys to grow 
up all by themselves ; but I’ll tell you what the 
chink of that money (the first I ever earned) did 
put into my head.” 

“ What ? I should like to know.” 

‘‘ We have a neighbor — Mr. Lambert. Two 
years ago he was a wealthy man ; his children 
were brought up just as I have been ; the oldest 
boy has been through Harvard College, studied 
law, has an office. But it was all pretence ; he 
never was in his office, except to smoke an hour in 
the morning, and never had a case. The next son 
went to college. A little more than a year ago 
Mr. Lambert lost his property, and there they are, 
a helpless family. Mr. Lambert worn out and dis- 
couraged ; the youngest son, Melville, who had to 


LATENT ENERGIES DEVELOPED. 


251 


]eave college, loafing round home, nor resolution 
to do as you do, — and there they are. My father 
may lose his property ; if he don’t. I’m not going 
to be like Mel and Sam Lambert ; I’m going to be 
among the number of those who, as you say, make 
the world move ; I mean to outmow everything in 
the field ; ” and jumping up, he caught hold of 
Morton, and they had a playful scufile. 

He then sat down and wrote two letters ; one 
to his father, and the other to his uncle Robert, 
with whom he was an especial favorite, for whom 
he was named, and who, he was well aware, pos- 
sessed unbounded influence over his parents. His 
letter created quite a sensation at home ; his moth- 
er was utterly opposed to his plan, and so were 
his sisters. They had made many plans for enjoy- 
ment during the vacation, of which Robert was 
the principal character. His father was dubious, 
but rather disposed to side with them. His uncle, 
on the other hand, was delighted. 

It is,” said he to his brother, “just what the 
boy needs ; it will put some common sense into 
him, bring out qualities that have never been 
stirred by all his previous education, and be worth 
as much to him in future life as all he has learned 
during the past year. 

“ But,” said his mother, “ he is so sensitive, has 
such fine tastes, has been brought up in so differ- 
ent a sphere, and has never been accustomed to 
such things and such society.” 


252 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Fiddlesticks ! Let him get accustomed to 
them. The fact is, Mary, you have made a baby 
of the boy here at home, and if you had been per- 
mitted to keep on, you would have ended in mak- 
ing a complete ninny of him. Now that he has 
got away from home, and is determined to make a 
man of himself, you discourage him at your peril ; 
that is, if you do not want him to be just like Mel 
or Sam Lambert.’’ 

^‘But,” said the father, “ it will be so hard to go 
into it all at once.” 

“ Hard ! HdW stand it a great deal better than 
you will, looking on. I tell you, Clem, it’s the old 
grit, that has been covered up, just coming out. 
Were not you and I brought up hard, and our fa- 
thers before us ? Didn’t we sleep where the snow 
blew through the chinks of the old house upon the 
foot of the bed, and our breath frosted the blan- 
kets ? Haven’t we travelled all the long winter 
night beside the cattle when they were white with 
frost, and icicles hanging from their noses? when 
the old sled growled, and when the day broke, cold 
shivers were running along our backbones ? Did 
it hurt us ? ” 

“ No, Bob, it made men of us.” 

Well, then, because it has made men of us, 
taught us effort, and we have got together a good 
property, shall we bring up our children to be help- 
less — common plunder for those too lazy to work 
— to be of no use in the world, and fling away all 


LATENT ENERGIES DEVELOPED. 


253 


our earnings faster than we obtained them ? Is 
not a little, at least, of what was good for us, good 
for them ? ” 

“ Yes ; and the boy shall do as he likes.’^ 

No sooner had Richardson received an answer 
to his letter, than he and Morton went down to 
BlaisdelPs, and, through his information and influ- 
ence, obtained a school in a district situated be- 
tween BlaisdelPs and John Beals’, and which did 
not commence till the end of the fall term. Thus 
Morton and Richardson were neighbors on each 
side, and returned to college delighted with their 
success, all the result of Morton acting upon the 
principle of doing as he would be done by, when 
he yoked Ransom’s ox, and saved BlaisdelPs rye ; 
and this was by no means the limit of its opera- 
tions. 


254 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

NOBLE CONDUCT OP MORTON. 

T he increasing length of the evenings now 
afforded a greater margin between dark and 
the usual time of retiring. 

It may be a matter of interest to a portion of 
our readers to know how the college day at that 
period, and in this institution, was divided. 

During the fall term, the prayer bell to rise rung 
at half past six, for attendance at the chapel at 
seven, directly after which were recitation and 
breakfast. Study hours were supposed to begin 
at nine, recitation at eleven, dinner at twelve ; 
study hours in the afternoon at two, recitation at 
five, evening prayers at six, supper at half past 
six ; study hours in the evening at seven. 

There is always a great diversity in the habits 
of even the most industrious students in respect 
to their manner of study. Morton rose at four, 
retired at nine. Richardson rose at five, retired 
at ten. If these hours were broken in upon, they, 
nevertheless, always got their lessons; if they 
were up half the night on some special bicsiness, 


NOBLE CONDUCT OF MORTON. 


255 


they sat up the remainder, and got their lessons. 
If Morton was compelled (as he often was) to take 
part of the early morning for work, he prepared 
his lessons the night before. In general they de- 
voted the evening to reading, — translating from 
Latin and Greek, — of which both were extremely 
fond, to class meetings, and promiscuous matters. 

Lowell and Ferguson pursued a course directly 
opposite. They prepared for morning recitation 
in the evening, never retiring till twelve o’clock, 
and sleeping till the last moment in the morning. 
It is but just, however, to say that Morton and 
Richardson accomplished as much again, shared 
in society debates, read dissertations, declaimed^ 
took double the exercise, read a great deal more, 
and ranked higher, while the others had about all 
they could do to get their regular lessons. More- 
over, Mort and Rich were always well, while the 
others were often sick, and still oftener “ blu«».” 
In respect to the remaining denizens of Radclifie 
(with the exception of Perkins and Savage), the 
less that is said about their employment of time 
the better. 

It may be gratifying to some of our readers to 
have us say a word in referenee to the manner of 
recitation. 

The class being seated in alphabetical order, the 
professor calls upon the students to recite. The 
number ten is taken as a standard of perfection ; 
and in proportion as the recitation of each mem- 


256 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


ber of the class approximates to that number he 
is ranked ; thus a recitation may rank in value all 
the way from six to ten, not generally reckoning 
below six. When a student is reported as being 
at “ sixes and sevens,’’ it is equivalent to being 
below par. The numbers of each student are add- 
ed up at the end of the week, again at the end of 
the term, and the average taken, and so on through- 
out the whole course ; thus recitations may count 
six, eight, ten, or nothing. Indeed, a professor 
one day, provoked by the idleness of Savage, said 
to him, “ Sit down ! I will mark you nothing, as 1 
have done for the last month.” 

Students are not taken up in regular order, or 
the whole class at a recitation ; but irregularly, 
although in general the same ones are not taken 
more than twice in succession, which may serve 
to explain the language of Hathaway, when pressed 
by Morton to get his lesson. 

“ I shan’t be taken up to-morrow ; I have been 
taken up twice lately.” Yet he might have been ; 
every college professor and tutor is posted, and 
is quite likely to surprise an idle boy when he 
least expects it. Every professor and tutor keeps 
account of absences from his recitations ; the col- 
lege monitor from prayers and worship on the 
Sabbath. It therefore by no means follows, that 
because he recites glibly, in college language 
sails well,” performs his problem correctly on the 
black-board, or explains his figure in geometry, 


NOBLE CONDUCT OF MORTON. 


257 


he will be marked high. He may have con- 
sulted a translation ; the book may be interlined f 
another may have read his lesson, or solved his 
problem for him. It is utterly useless to attempt 
to deceive a shrewd college professor to any ex- 
tent. A question or two, which he knows pre- 
cisely how to put, a request to read some other 
passage in the lesson, or perhaps some part of a 
previous lesson, brings out the whole matter; he 
may put down a low mark, if he is well assured 
that the scholar is, in college dialect, “ making a 
squirt,” cheeking,” or ‘‘ sailing on general knowl- 
edge.” 

As a jury must decide according to law and 
evidence, irrespective of any personal feeling, so 
must the professor mark the student by his reci- 
tation. If a student recites well, is able to answer 
all the questions legitimately within the scope of 
the lesson that he puts, he must mark with ten, 
although he may be convinced that another has 
greater depth of mind, is equally industrious, and 
in every way a stronger man, but cannot do jus- 
tice to himself before the class ; knows really as 
much again, but cannot manifest it so well. If 
you make the recitation the standard, you must 
decide by the recitation. In such cases the opin- 
ion of the class may be quite different from the 
showing of the ranking book, and is generally the 
more correct, although this same facility of making 
the most of a little will generally confer popularity 
17 


258 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


and success through life, and is far more profitable 
than making the least of a great deal. 

Many an idle fellow, after flattering himself that 
he has deceived the professor, and made splendid 
recitations, has found from bitter experience that 
there is no royal road to college rank. 

Being unable to solve a problem, or translate 
a sentence, is called taking a dead ; ” to get 
through with great difiiculty, taking a screw ; ’’ 
to be absent from exercises without leave, cut- 
ting ; ’’ leaving the room when the time for recita- 
tion has elapsed, although the professor may be in 
sight, “ cutting the professor.’’ These terms are 
different in different colleges. 

When glass is broken, fires set, or other injury 
done to college property, and the perpetrators 
cannot be discovered, the cost of repair is assessed 
upon the whole body of students ; the object of 
which is to induce some one to inform, that the 
cost may be assessed upon the real authors, and 
the rest escape. 

It is hardly necessary to say, that to give infor- 
mation in such cases is not a very safe operation 
if known, or even suspected ; and such persons 
are termed ‘‘ sneaks.” 

It has sometimes occurred, that a person known 
to be perfectly innocent, but unpopular, has, under 
this pretext, been very severely dealt with, and a 
personal grudge gratified, under the color of what in 
college morals is considered righteous indignation. 


NOBLE CONDUCT OF MORTON. 


259 


It will be evident to every boy, upon the least 
reflection, that the college standard of rank is by 
no means the measure of the man, but the measure, 
either of his ability to grapple with the college 
studies, or his industry in that respect, his regular 
attendance upon college exercises, and, to a certain 
extent, of his moral character ; for, although a per- 
son possessed of Morton’s capabilities might per- 
form a great deal of mischief, and be very immoral 
without affecting his rank, because not detected, 
yet such occurrences are very rare, although in 
college, as in society, every rogue expects to 
escape detection ; still in general they do not, and 
in these respects the estimates of the books are 
quite accurate. But in respect to what a student 
will accomplish, or how he will be estimated, when 
on leaving college he is thrown upon his own 
resources, and weighed by his own specific gravity, 
is entirely another matter. He may have all kinds 
of sense, except common sense ; may be a learned 
fool, able to solve the most difficult problem in 
mathematics, and not the problem of how to get a 
living ; utterly unable to put to any practical use 
the vast pile of, to him, useless, though intrinsically 
valuable knowledge, he has by faithful painstaking 
acquired ; the result of which has been to unfit 
him for the only thing he might have succeeded 
in, and then have been some use in the world. He 
is, to be sure, in some respects a Goliath, but is hit 
in the forehead and floored by some illiterate 


260 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


David, armed only with the sling he knows how to 
use. He may have been idle in college, and after- 
wards bent to the oar, or, on the other hand, have 
been industrious, but taught by an unerring in- 
stinct of nature that the studies arranged for him 
neither nourish nor stimulate his faculties ; may 
have given the greater part of his time to outside 
reading, and though making a sorry figure on the 
college books, yet, upon leaving it, step at once 
into the place for which his proclivities qualify 
him. We have never known an instance of this 
character, however, where the individual did not 
ever regret that he had not stuck to the college 
curriculum, and pursued the special cultivation 
afterwards ; but notwithstanding these exceptions 
in both respects, it is true, and ever will be, that 
students Avho stand well in college will accomplish 
good or great results in after life. It is but too 
common for young men in college to feel that the 
habits there formed are of but little consequence ; 
that they are only sowing their wild oats,’’ as the 
phrase is ; that a little license in the heyday of the 
blood is allowable, and to be left off in the senior 
year, or, at any rate, when they leave college, and 
the sterner demands of life and business press 
upon them. The wild oats are sown, to be sure ; 
but they sprout, and resow themselves again and 
again. More especially is this true in respect to 
convivial habits, to which the temptations and 
tendencies are very strong in college. Vulgarity 


NOBLE CONDUCT OF MORTON. 


261 


and profanity may be relinquished, idleness re- 
placed by strenuous effort, reluctance to mental 
exertion and want of application may all be over- 
come by reason of the stimulus furnished by new 
objects and more congenial circumstances; but 
this habit is unlike every other ; it possesses the 
tenacity of birdlime; it may be repressed for a 
while, even for years, during which time great 
efforts may be made, and corresponding honors 
acquired ; gained, too, by its aid, and the spas- 
modic energy and brilliancy it imparts ; the indi- 
vidual resorting to it in emergencies, or when 
called to strenuous mental efforts. But as a power- 
ful ally sometimes refuses to leave the field when 
the victory is won, but seizes the country and en- 
slaves the people he was invoked to aid, thus this 
vice often hurls those who have tampered with it 
from the summit of honor and usefulness to the 
abyss of infamy and woe. Whatever other habits 
may be relinquished or faults amended, this, once 
formed, is seldom surrendered. It is a social habit, 
and there lies the curse and the power of it, be- 
cause the social element is stronger in college than 
anywhere else. 

The question may arise in some minds. How do 
such persons as Trafton get through college, and 
what is an institution worth that will permit such 
to pass through? 

Well, they go through, as smutty wheat or 
blighted barley goes through the sieve of the win- 
nowing machine, and are blown out with the chaff: 


2C2 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


the better the machine, the more light kernels will 
be blown out. It is not the fault of the machine 
that the heap of wheat is so small, and that of the 
chaff so large, but of the farmer who raises poor 
grain, brings it to the mill, avers it to be good, and 
insists upon having it run through, the miller to 
the contrary notwithstanding. 

A well-behaved boy is not turned out of school 
because he is thick-headed; if, knowing this, his 
parents choose to keep him there, thinking per- 
haps that even a poor soil may bear something with 
abundant dressing, that low faculties may at least 
be elevated to mediocrity, or that in some one 
branch he may excel, — for even Trafton did very 
well in mathematics, — that is their concern. 

Thus at college the term bills of each student go 
home to the parent or guardian, and they have an 
opportunity to know his behavior and standing. 
If, after that, they choose to keep him there, it is 
their business. Parental partiality may lead them 
to think he is not appreciated, and is unjustly dealt 
with; or, if well aware that he possesses capa- 
city, but is indolent, they may prefer to let him 
graduate. 

It may be asked. Is it of any advantage to per- 
mit an indolent boy of ability to graduate? Yes, 
if he is not forming vicious habits. He’ll read 
more or less, pick up a good deal, write some, 
learn the use of tools, and know where and how 
knowledge is to be obtained ; and it is possible that 
in the senior year, when the results of indolence 


NOBLE CONDUCT OP MORTON. 


263 


and misdirected effort and application are made 
public, he will be stung to effort, and say, — 

“ I have no college rank to introduce me to the 
public, and bespeak favor and consideration. I’ll 
just fling myself upon my reserved rights, and see 
what I can do without it ; see what the result will 
be in a fair field, where there is no favor, when 
neck and neck with those now exulting in academic 
laurels.” 

As but few of our readers are familiar with the 
minutim of college life, these remarks are thrown 
out as explanatory, both of matter which has pre- 
ceded and may follow. 

Morton could carve as well as sketch. In the 
woods he came across a birch root, with a whorl 
on it as large as a good-sized orange ; removing 
the bark, he stained about two feet of the root red, 
and on the whorl cut the features of Hill so ac- 
curately, that every one pronounced it a perfect 
likeness. 

The organs on the posterior portion of Hill’s 
cranium were very much developed, especially 
that of philoprogenitiveness; this Morton exag- 
gerated somewhat. He possessed the power of 
waking at any hour he pleased ; and when any of 
the Hadcliffes wanted to rise early, they asked 
Morton to call them. At such times he would seize 
his club, and in order to avoid committing assault 
and battery upon his classmate’s countenance, 
strike his bump of philoprogenitiveness upon the 
door with such force as generally to succeed in 


264 


THE SrAKK OF GENIUS. 


arousing, not only the subject of his attentions, but 
every one in the building. 

One evening Morton and his chum sat busily oc- 
cupied at their study table : it was a long evening, 
and dark early, for it had been a rainy day. Not a 
word had been uttered by either for more than two 
hours, both being engaged in writing. At length 
Morton pushed over his paper to Eich. 

“ That is splendid ! ” said he, after attentively 
reading the production. It was a translation from 
Cicero. Morton was passionately fond of the long- 
flowing sentences of the Roman orator, dearly loved 
the classics, and had read in advance the Latin and 
Greek of the sophomore year. 

By and by Richardson pushes over his paper to 
Morton. 

“ Rich, how many more undeveloped faculties 
do you possess ? Every day brings out something 
new.’^ 

It was an ode of Horace, and finely rendered, 
expressing the true spirit of the original with 
felicity of versification. 

“Why don’t you rhyme. Rich? You have it in 
you. What shall we do for a class poet? There’s 
not one in the class aspires to woo the Muses.” 

“0, I can’t. I can make out to translate, but 
when I try to do any more, I’m stuck.” 

A few evenings after this the Radcliffes were 
all assembled in Morton’s room, preparatory to 
going into class meeting. All were talking and 
chaffing except Rich, who, seated at a small table 



A Poet born in Radcliffe. Page 265. 




NOBLE CONDUCT OF MOKTON. 


265 


in the bedroom, was busily writing, regardless of 
the din. 

Morton, chancing to enter the room, instantly 
caught the paper from under his pen, and, rushing 
in among the rest, shouted, A poet ! a poet is 
born in Radcliffe ! 

‘ Nascimur poetae, fimus oratores.’ 

0, happy day, to be marked with a white stone in 
the annals of this castle ; behold, I ascend Par- 
nassus, ’’ leaping on the table to escape Rich, who. 
with a face as red as a coal, and in great perturba- 
tion, was trying to get the paper from him. 

Read it, read it ! ” was the cry of the others, 
making a ring round the table, so as effectively to 
prevent Rich from snatching it. 

Only see him blush,’’ said Savage. 

Attention, ye commonplace mortals ; listen to 
the inspiration of genius,” cried Mort, holding up 
the paper. 

“ Lone, gentle lake, since last I stood 
Beside thy calm and purple flood. 

Or wandered by the sedgy shore 
Of niarbly sand, whose brilliants pave 
The limits of thy western wave, 

Full many — • ” 

Don’t read any more, Mort,” said Rich ; “ don’t, 
please.” 

“ Go on,” cried Perk ; it’s going to be first rate, 
I know.” 

Rut Morton, who perceived Rich was in earnest, 
and really distressed, put it in his pocket, and, 


266 


THE SPARK OP GENIUS. 


leaping over the heads of the rest, landed on the 
floor. 

“ Take it away from him ! ” cried Savage. 

“ You canT do that little thing/’ said Mort, 
tripping up Savage, and flinging Hill (who had 
grappled with him) on top of him, and shoving 
Lowell into the fireplace, while Rich, upsetting 
Ferg, pulled the paper from Mort’s pocket, ran into 
the bedroom, and locked himself in. 

Gentlemen,” cried Mort, please come to order. 
As self-constituted chairman of this meeting, being 
indeed the only competent person, I move that it 
is the sentiment of Radclifie Hall, that Rich be 
requested to deliver the class poem at the class 
supper, on the last night of the term.” 

The vote was carried by acclamation. 

I move,” said Perk, “ that we use all proper 
methods to bring the class to the same opinion.” 

Don’t, I beg of you,” cried Rich, through the 
key-hole. 

^^Yes, we will,” said Hathaway; and the vote 
was carried as the other had been. 

In due time Richardson was nominated and 
chosen for class poet, and Morton for orator. 
Morton persuaded Rich to write the poem, but 
declined to accept the honor conferred upon him- 
self, and induced the class to elect Perkins. 

Since the affair of the eels, Perkins had become 
quite studious, regular at prayers and recitations, 
and Morton wished to encourage him. Perk, not- 
withstanding his indolence, was exceedingly popu- 


NOBLE CONDUCT OF MORTON. 


267 


lar, recognized as possessing first-rate abilities, and 
the very boy for an effort of that kind. Hathaway, 
in respect to study, pursued the same listless, in- 
dolent course, but gradually became morose, and 
seemed unhappy. He now began to imagine that 
since his confession in respect to the affair of the 
thermometer, even Savage entertained a low 
opinion of him, and felt that Morton did. 

As Savage had begun to apply liimself, would no 
longer wander tlirough the woods and about the 
shores as much as before, and would not drink 
with him, he was often at a loss to know what to 
do with himself, and rather inclined to drown un- 
pleasant thoughts by drinking to excess with Hill, 
and thus became quite miserable. 

Hath was in just this state pf mind when Morton 
relinquished the honor conferred upon him by the 
class in favor of Perkins, and divined the reason 
why. 

If,’’ said he to himself, “ Mort would do that to 
put Perk ahead, just because he is trying to help 
himself, he never will hold ill feeling in regard to 
a fellow he once liked as well as I knowhe did me.” 

That very night he said to Morton, as they came 
out of class meeting, “ Don’t you want to walk 
down to the river?” 

Hathaway had resolved that before returning he 
would tell Morton how he felt ; but when the op- 
portunity offered he recoiled. They looked at the 
falls, flashing white in the starlight, talked of one 
thing and another, went in swimming, and returned. 


268 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


Wliat are you going to do Saturday afternoon ? ” 
said Hathaway, as they parted. 

Build post and board fence. I’ve already set 
the posts, sorted the boards, and shall nail them on 
Saturday.” 

Would you like to have me help you ? ” 

“Yes, indeed; for I want some one to hold up 
the boards while I hew off the ‘ stub-shod ’ and nail 
them.” 

“ ril help you.” 

“ Thank you.” 

As Hathaway stood astride the boards, in order 
to hold them up edgewise, with his back towards 
Morton, he could converse without looking him 
in the face, which gave him renewed courage. 
Before they had been long at work, Plathaway 
said, — 

“ Do you remember Master Childs, who once 
kept your school ? ” 

“ Don’t think I shall bo likely to forget the gen- 
tleman\ his cowhide and my back were too well 
acquainted for that.” 

“ Or to forgive my mean, low-lived conduct on 
that occasion.” 

“ I forgave that long ago.” 

“ You did ! ” turning round ; “ that is more than 
I have done, for I have never forgiven myself, and 
you must despise me.” 

“ I did at first, but not afterwards ; you know, 
Still, we were long great friends.” 

“ Yes.” 


NOBLE CONDUCT OF MOKTON. 


269 


Well, as I thought it over, I knew what you 
did then was not in accordance with other acts of 
yours. 1 could not forget the time you ran in be- 
tween me and a savage bull, made him take after 
you, and came within a hair-breadth of losing your 
life, and some other things of that kind ; so con- 
cluded you were not yourself that day, and let it 
go at that.” 

But when I met you after that, you didn’t 
seem as you did before.” 

Neither did you ; but appeared offish, and, 
under the circumstances, I didn’t feel that it was 
my place to make the first advance towards a 
better understanding.” 

I have never yet been able to conceive how I 
came to do as I did ; but 1 know I have suffered 
enough for it, and have never felt right one mo- 
ment from that day to this. 1 wanted to walk 
right up to you, and tell you how much I despised 
myself, and how I felt ; but I thought you would 
repulse me with scorn.” 

If you had done so, I should have met you 
more than half way ; thus you see we have been 
treating each other with cold respect, while we 
were both longing to do otherwise, for the lack of 
this little talk and knowledge of each other’s 
sentiments.” 

That is true ; and you don’t know how much 
this conversation has been worth to me. Now, I 
wish it was only the beginning of the year, for I 
feel as though I could do something.’' 


270 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


“ Make the most of the fag-end, Still, and at 
least show a good disposition. I’ll give you some- 
thing to do.” 

What is it ? ” 

‘‘ Write a song for the class supper. Colby and 
I are delegated to procure it, and there is no one 
to write it except you or Rich, and he has enough 
to do with his poem. Colby said he went to you, 
and all the answer he got was, ^ Go to the devil.’ ” 

“ I felt sour and ugly then ; but the clouds have 
broken away, and the sun shines. I’ll do it, and 
do all I know how.” 

“ Then all we have to look out for now is the 
supper and the bonfire.” 

“ What’s the matter. Still ? ” asked Savage, as he 
entered the room ; “ what makes you look so happy, 
old fellow — drawn a prize in a lottery ? ” 

Yes, I’ve drawn Mort, and I’m going to write 
the class song, and Colby needn’t ‘ go to the devil ’ 
till after the supper.” 

Good ! I thought that was what you were 
helping Mort for; this term is going to end off* 
first rate.” 

The institution at this period might have been 
most appropriately styled the forest college, being 
well-nigh embosomed in majestic pines, beneath 
whose shade the services at the inauguration of its 
first president were held. 

It was a pleasant afternoon, the wind blowing 
fresh from the south, when Rich, stealing away 
from his companions, entered the forest, which 


NOBLE CONDUCT OP MORTON. 271 

guew to the very threshold of Radcliffe, and threw 
liimself across the roots of a great pine ; he could 
feel them strain against his breast as the lofty 
tree swayed in the strengthening breeze, and he 
listened to the wild and dreamy music of the wind 
among the tree-tops, now breaking in deep and 
majestic tones upon the ear, now dying to a 
whisper. 

Long he lay there, chasing the shadows of fleet- 
ing thoughts, till he was roused by a footfall; 
and Perk, also in pursuit of ideas, lay down beside 
him. 

The pines are the-re still, the south wind wails 
or whispers in their green labyrinths; but how 
many of those who, in the careless hours of youth, 
thus lay at their roots, and cherished fond hopes 
of honor and usefulness, have passed away ! 

Dear as remembered kisses after death are the 
scenes which recall the forms of those we loved, 
the paths we have trodden, and the pleasures we 
have shared together. 

It is the recollection of pleasant hours thus spent 
(not less pleasant in retrospect) that suggests the 
title of this series. 

Examination day came at last. Very much like 
criminals on their way to execution did Perk, Hill, 
Hathaway, Savage, and Trafton present them- 
selves before the faculty and committee of ex- 
amination. 

Perk — thanks to Old Cleave, the incentive by 
him administered, and by his own efforts at the 


272 


THE SPARK OF GENIUS. 


latter end, got through well ; and so, by great 
good luck, did Savage. 

The others were conditioned — that is, were 
ordered to study during vacation, and be examined 
at the beginning of the next term by those pro- 
fessors in whose department they had failed, and 
their admittaturs were kept back. Trafton failed 
in everything but mathematics ; the others, some 
in one thing, some in another. 

These trifles, however, did by no means mar the 
hilarity of the class supper, which was a success. 
The oration, poem, and song were most enthusiasti- 
cally received, and applauded to the echo. 

^^Wefll bring Ed Savage to his ^ wine,’ said 
Hill to Hath at the supper; but they didn’t, 
though Hill himself got under the table. It was 
now, “ Ho, for home ! ” with all but poor Mort, who 
could not afford the expense, and sent back the 
money his father pinched himself to remit for his 
passage. After the rest were gone, he slept in the 
president’s house during the absence of the family, 
and went to work on a dam that was being re- 
paired at the river. 

The Radcliffers present their respects to their 
young friends, whom they will be very happy to 
meet on their return from vacation, and com- 
municate to them all matters of general interest in 
the second story of “ The Whispering Pine Series,” 
entitled, “ The Sophomores of Radcliffe Hall, or 
James Trafton and his Bosom Friends.” 












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